News for Business
Tuesday, October 28, 2025
The Smithfield Police Department is enhancing its ability to engage with the community and
keep residents safe through the launch of a new mobile app that makes it easy to connect with
police, access information, receive public safety alerts, and submit anonymous tips directly from
a smartphone.
The Smithfield PD app puts a powerful new crime-fighting and community engagement tool
into the ...read more
Categories: Community, Human Interest, Business, General News Article, Press Release
Tuesday, October 28, 2025
Photo credit: Logan Heitman
Front row Left: Lorie Jones, G.M. Old North State Food Hall, Apple and Bobby Ray Stone, Owners, Pat Thai, joined by members of Activate Selma at Triangle East Chamber of Commerce to welcome PAT THAI as they cut the ribbon on their new eatery at Old North State Food Hall. __________________________________________________________________________________Selma, NC ...read more
Categories: Business, Community, Human Interest, Chamber, Economic
Wednesday, October 22, 2025
Smithfield, NC – Johnston County Public Utilities has once again been recognized for its commitment to providing high-quality drinking water, earning the prestigious Area-Wide Optimization Program (AWOP) Award from the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s (NCDEQ) Division of Water Resources.
The state honored 63 water treatment plants across North Carolina for surpassing federal ...read more
Categories: Business, General News Article, Press Release
Monday, October 20, 2025
Selma / Smithfield, N.C. — Boys & Girls Clubs of Johnston County is pleased to announce it has been awarded a $5,000 grant from the 2025 Johnston County Community Foundation, an affiliate of the North Carolina Community Foundation (NCCF). This support is made possible through the Johnston County Unrestricted Endowment Fund and the Cara Lee Powell Priest Endowment for Johnston County.
These two ...read more
Categories: Business, Community, Human Interest, Press Release
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Thursday, October 16, 2025
Smithfield, N.C. — The Clayton Women in Networking (WIN) organization has presented a check to the Johnston County Community Foundation in support of a Leadership Johnston Scholarship. This contribution reflects Clayton WIN’s ongoing commitment to fostering leadership and community involvement across Johnston County.
Leadership Johnston, a program of the Triangle East Chamber of Commerce, ...read more
Categories: Chamber, Press Release, Business, Economic
Tuesday, October 14, 2025
Categories: Chamber, Business, Press Release, Community
Tuesday, October 14, 2025
From how to start a small business to writing a business plan, the Small Business Center has workshops designed for those who are ready to take the leap into owning their own business.
To view the upcoming calendar click here.
Categories: Community, Business, General News Article
Thursday, October 09, 2025
Johnston Now Magazine Earns Two NCPA Awards
Johnston Now Magazine was recently honored with two awards from the North Carolina Press Association (NCPA), recognizing excellence in community journalism and storytelling. The publication earned third place in General Excellence and third place for a photo essay by Editor Jamie Strickland for coverage of events at Camp Flintlock.
“We’re honored to ...read more
Categories: Business, Community, Human Interest, Chamber, General News Article, Press Release
Tuesday, October 07, 2025
Grant Applications are now open for the Verizon Small Business Readiness Autumn Grant.
Fifty small businesses will be awarded $10,000 through this program. Don't miss this opportunity to secure funding for your business. Deadline to apply is December 10, 2025.
Go to bit.ly/SBC-VerizonCreate a FREE AccountComplete 2 FREE 30 minute coursesBecome eligible to apply for a $10,000 grant
Here’s ...read more
Categories: Education, Business, General News Article
Tuesday, October 07, 2025
Carolina Packer's Bright Leaf Hot Dogs came in second place in the Coolest Thing Made in NC Contest hosted by the North Carolina Chamber.
The hot dogs were beat out by Catamaran Boats.
The company stated, "We couldn’t have made it this far without your incredible support and votes. Thank you for cheering us on and helping us represent North Carolina proudly."
Categories: Fun Facts, Community, Business
Monday, October 06, 2025
Hampton Inn in by Hilton Smithfield Selma received the Hilton Award for Excellence. The Award is presented to the top 5% of hotels in the Hampton Inn Brand in North America. Out of the three years the location has been eligible this is the second time the property has received the recognition.
This recognition is given to hotels that consistently provide outstanding guest experiences and uphold ...read more
Categories: Business, General News Article, Community
Thursday, October 02, 2025
Are your financial projections truly speaking the lender's language?
Join us for this in-person seminar crafted to empower borrowers with the knowledge to create projections that stand out.
Topics to be covered include:
The specific information and analytical approaches lenders employ
A clear roadmap for what lenders are seekingA demonstration of the practical application of the SCORE ...read more
Categories: Business, Education
Thursday, October 02, 2025
The federal government shutdown is creating significant challenges for businesses nationwide, from delayed SBA loans to halted federal contracts. These disruptions threaten growth, delay opportunities, and create uncertainty for business leaders and their communities.
With Congress failing to reach a funding agreement by September 30, 2025, a government shutdown has begun. This will halt ...read more
Categories: Business, General News Article, Economic, Political
Thursday, October 02, 2025
Duke Energy filed its biennial long-range energy modernization plan for its dual-state system with the North Carolina Utilities Commission.
The 2025 Carolinas Resource Plan is Duke Energy’s road map to serve customer growth needs while protecting reliability and keeping costs as low as possible. Customer bill impacts for the proposed plan are projected to average 2.1% annually over the coming ...read more
Categories: Business, Economic, Community, Press Release
Johnston Community College and County Leaders Cut Ribbon on Advanced Manufacturing Training Facility
Friday, September 26, 2025
Johnston Community College, along with County and state leaders, celebrated the official opening of the new Advanced Manufacturing Training Facility in Four Oaks today. The 67,000-square-foot, $40 million facility will serve as a hub for workforce training, economic development, and industry partnerships across Johnston County and the eastern region of North Carolina.
The state-of-the-art ...read more
Categories: Business, Economic, Education
Tuesday, September 23, 2025
The US Chamber of Commerce in partnership with AEI Housing Center recently released Strong Foundations: A Playbook for Housing and Economic Growth- a first of its kind resource offering data informed insights and practical strategies tailed to thousands of local jurisdictions- including Johnston County.
The Johnston County playbook provides insight into housing supply, affordability, migration ...read more
Categories: Economic, Business
Friday, September 19, 2025
Finding qualified workers remains a significant challenge for businesses, with only 38% of hiring managers reporting that it’s easy to find candidates with the right skills.
The big picture: A new survey from the U.S. Chamber and College Board highlights a significant gap in workforce readiness among high school graduates.
By the numbers: 84% of hiring managers in the survey say high school ...read more
Categories: Education, Business, General News Article
Thursday, September 18, 2025
Transportation and commuting challenges took center stage at the 2025 State of the Region Breakfast, held last week at the Johnston County Ag Center. Presented by Lumos, the event drew a packed room of business and community leaders eager to hear what’s ahead for Johnston County and the region.
Using Mentimeter, attendees engaged directly with panelists: David Harris, Director of the Johnston ...read more
Categories: Business, General News Article, Chamber
Thursday, September 18, 2025
Businesses, nonprofits, and government entities in Johnston County can apply to host a Golden LEAF Scholar.
The program provides students who have received Golden LEAF Scholarships internship opportunities in qualifying rural counties. Golden LEAF will pay the intern for their time. The interns work 9-12 weeks between May and August.
Intern hosts must provide the interns with a meaningful ...read more
Categories: Education, Business
Thursday, September 18, 2025
Statewide, visitor spending in 2024 rose 3.1% to reach a record $36.7 billion. Direct tourism employment increased 1.4% to 230,338. These statistics come from the “Economic Impact of Travel on North Carolina Counties 2024,” a study funded, contracted, and released by Visit NC. In Johnston County, visitors spent $314.59 million in 2024, which is a 5.2% increase over 2023 spending.Visitors to the ...read more
Categories: Economic, Business
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Thursday, September 11, 2025
Johnston County Building Inspectors Earn Statewide Award for Hurricane Helene Response
Smithfield, N.C.- For their service after Hurricane Helene, Johnston County’s Building Inspections Department received the Barry Gupton Award, a major honor from the North Carolina Building Inspectors' Association (NCBIA).
The award is presented to individuals or organizations that show exceptional commitment ...read more
Categories: Business, General News Article, Community, Press Release
Monday, September 08, 2025
The Small Business Center at Johnston Community College has announced its lineup of workshops for September. They include bookkeeping and marketing classes.
The full details can be viewed here.
Categories: Business, Education
Thursday, September 04, 2025
Apartments are coming to Eastfield.
Eastfield, the 435 acre mixed use development, in Selma that's plan includes manufacturing, retail, hospitality, and residential, recently announced a 348 unit multifamily community will be built.
The project represents an innovative collaboration between the NRP Group and the Mid-Atlantic Foundation to create a real estate tax exempt development that ...read more
Categories: Business, General News Article
Thursday, September 04, 2025
Johnston County Recognizes Summer Interns and Highlights Local Government Opportunities
Smithfield, N.C.- The Johnston County Board of Commissioners recognized this year’s class of summer interns during their regular meeting on Tuesday, September 2, 2025. More than a dozen high school and college students gained valuable work experience this summer through internships across multiple County ...read more
Categories: Business, Economic, General News Article, Community, Education, Press Release
Wednesday, September 03, 2025
Categories: Business, Community, Education, Press Release
Tuesday, September 02, 2025
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
THE DUPREE HOUSE TO HOST "I DO, RE-DO" EVENT FOR SUSTAINABLE
WEDDING SHOPPING
SMITHFIELD, NC – September 2, 2025 – The Dupree House is excited to announce its inaugural "I Do, Re-
Do" event, a unique wedding market designed to connect recent brides and wedding planners with brides-to-be
seeking beautiful, budget-friendly treasures. The event will be held on January 11th, ...read more
Categories: Fun Facts, Business, Community, General News Article, Press Release
Thursday, August 28, 2025
Scott Nunn, facilities engineer at Novo Nordisk and incoming board chair at the Triangle East Chamber of Commerce was one of the featured speakers at the North Carolina Chamber of Commerce's 2025 Education and Workforce Conference on Skills. More than 260 people attended the event.
According to Stuart Andreason, executive director of programs at Burning Glass Institute, skills are what determines ...read more
Categories: Education, Business
Thursday, August 21, 2025
Scott Nunn, facilities engineer at Novo Nordisk and incoming board chair at the Triangle East Chamber of Commerce, presented at the North Carolina Chamber of Commerce's Education and Workforce Conference on August 21.
Scott was one of three panelists that presented how businesses can help shape training to meet their specific needs ensuring a pipeline of skilled workers. He focused on JOCO WORKS. ...read more
Categories: Business, General News Article, Education
Thursday, August 21, 2025
The US Chamber of Commerce released a report on small businesses use of artificial intelligence The report found approximately 50% of businesses in the state have adopted use of AI. However, business leaders have concerns over data privacy and regulations.
The report found that use of AI has helped small business owners cope with inflation and supply chain disruption as well as improved access ...read more
Categories: Business, General News Article, Economic
Thursday, August 21, 2025
Johnston County Board of Commissioners to Hold Public Hearing on Comprehensive Transportation Plan
Smithfield, N.C.- The Johnston County Board of Commissioners will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, September 2, 2025, to receive community input on the County’s Comprehensive Transportation Plan. The hearing will take place during the Commissioners’ regular meeting at 6:00 p.m. in the ...read more
Categories: Business, Community, General News Article, Press Release
Wednesday, August 20, 2025
KS BANK WELCOMES TRAVIS B. BAILEY AS CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT
(SMITHFIELD, N.C.) – KS Bank, Inc. is pleased to announce the addition of Travis B. Bailey to its Senior Executive Management team as the Chief Administrative Officer. In this role, Bailey will lead the bank’s retail branches and management and ensure that KS Bank continues to deliver exceptional service ...read more
Categories: Business, Press Release
Wednesday, August 13, 2025
The US Chamber has published a guide for small businesses to help them maximize savings from the recently enacted One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
This guide helps companies better understand provisions of the law, including permanent deductions, enhanced credits, and expanded eligibility criteria.
Small business owners can take advantage of these tax breaks starting now for expenses dating back to ...read more
Categories: Economic, Business
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Monday, August 11, 2025
Smithfield, NC – The Triangle East Chamber of Commerce has taken a major step forward in its five-year Triangle East Prospers initiative, appointing BriAnna Walker as the region’s first-ever Talent and Leadership Development Manager.
The new role marks a significant investment in tackling one of Johnston County’s most pressing challenges: building a skilled workforce. Currently, 63 percent of ...read more
Categories: Business, General News Article, Chamber, Press Release
Wednesday, July 30, 2025
KS BANK CELEBRATES NEW FULL-SERVICE BRANCH IN BAILEY, NC WITH OFFICIAL RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY(SMITHFIELD, NC) – KS Bank hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday, June 24th, to celebrate the bank’s new Bailey branch. The ceremony featured remarks from Leigh Deans, with the Bailey Chamber of Commerce, Owen Strickland, Mayor of Bailey, Walter Wells, Mayor Pro-tem of Bailey, Earl W. Worley, Jr., ...read more
Categories: Press Release, Business
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Wednesday, June 11, 2025
More than a local initiative, Chamber foundations have become a national best practice—empowering chambers across the country to tackle big-picture challenges like workforce readiness, small business resilience, and inclusive economic growth. By establishing our Foundation 14 years ago, we positioned ourselves ahead of the curve, recognizing early on that a 501(c)(3) arm would allow us to access ...read more
Categories: Business, Community, Economic, Chamber, Press Release
Thursday, May 22, 2025
You’re sitting on a goldmine and don’t even know it. Right outside your storefront, in the coffee shops and laundromats and food trucks humming a block away, are patterns, habits, and whispers that—if read right—can tell you exactly what your next move should be. Strategy isn’t just spreadsheets and quarterly forecasts, it’s how well you can read the room, especially when the room is your zip ...read more
Categories: Chamber, General News Article, Business, Community, Press Release
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Tuesday, April 01, 2025
The Triangle East Economic Development Foundation and the Triangle East Chamber of Commerce hosted Workforce Housing: Understanding the Challenge, Creating Solutions, the Foundation’s inaugural event, addressing workforce housing challenges and their impact on local businesses.
The event took place at First Baptist Church of Smithfield on April 1st. Panelists included:
Jill Homan, President of ...read more
Categories: Chamber, Economic, Business, Community, Press Release
Tuesday, February 18, 2025
KS BANK SPONSORED COMMUNITY EVENT FOR ENTREPRENEURS AND SMALL BUSINESSES(Smithfield, NC) – KS Bank was the proud presenting sponsor of the first Harnett Business Resources Summit, hosted by the Dunn, Lillington, Coats, Erwin, and Angier Chambers of Commerce, as well as the Central Carolina Community College Small Business Center. The event provided tools, resources, and insights for entrepreneurs ...read more
Categories: Business, Chamber, Community, Press Release
Monday, June 03, 2024
Employee Wellness is Good Business
Companies that prioritize employee wellness are finding its a tool to recruit and retain employees and a way to reduce healthcare costs.
Research conducted by Workforce Magazine found that 87 percent of employees considered wellness programs when choosing an employer. In addition 67 percent of employees who worked for organizations with wellness programs ...read more
Categories: Community, Business
