WASHINGTON – Nine new community clinics, improvements at four medical centers and a partnership with the Camp Lejeune Naval Hospital are part of a comprehensive plan by the Department of Veterans Affairs to modernize its system of health care facilities in North Carolina.

FAYETTEVILLE – The U.S. Small Business Administration has named Judith “Judi” Superak, director of the business center of the Women’s Center of Fayetteville, as its Women in Business Advocate of the Year for 2004.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Small Business Administration has announced a new procurement program that will boost federal contract opportunities for service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses, and the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council has concurrently released regulations implementing the program.

RALEIGH – The U.S. Department of Commerce has named the Research Triangle Regional Partnership a co-winner of its 2004 Regional Competitiveness Excellence in Economic Development Award for its plan to boost regional employment by attracting clusters of related businesses.

DURHAM – The Research Triangle region is poised for growth in the coming years, but business and government leaders need to invest money and hard work to take advantage of that opportunity, officials said Tuesday.

ASHEBORO – The Randolph County Economic Development Corporation has been named one of the Top 20 economic development groups in the United States for 2003 by Site Selection magazine.

PINEHURST – Pinehurst Resort announced today that Donald Padgett II has accepted the position of president and will assume his new role on July 1.

PINEHURST – Proving everything is better the second time around, Pinehurst officials announced corporate hospitality sales for the 2005 U.S. Open Championship are well ahead of schedule.

BADIN – Cumberland, Harnett, Hoke, Scotland, Lee, Chatham and Robeson counties have been targeted for this year’s 1000/100 Project, a statewide initiative aimed at connecting communities to a rapidly growing market for heritage and cultural tourism.

ROCKINGHAM – NASCAR made official Friday morning what area boosters have feared for weeks: The North Carolina Speedway has lost its remaining Nextel Cup Series race.

DUNN – New Century Bancorp (OTC: NCBC), the holding company for New Century Bank and New Century Bank of Fayetteville, reported first-quarter income of $84,000, down from $214,000 for the same period in 2003.

RALEIGH – North Carolina Electric Membership Corp. (NCEMC) has agreed to buy wholesale power from Progress Energy Inc. to meet its peak-load electricity needs over the next 20 years.

MOUNT GILEAD – McRae Industries Inc. (Amex: MRIA) declared a dividend of 6 cents per share on the company’s Class A common stock, payable June 25 to shareholders of record on June 11.

SANFORD – Kelly MarCom Inc., an integrated marketing communications firm serving Eastern U.S.-based businesses and industries, has developed a strategic initiative that will allow the firm to extend its corporate branding service offerings to include environmental design.

HAMLET – Impact Plastics plans to construct a new manufacturing facility in Richmond County, creating 50 jobs over the next three years and resulting in a $3.5 million capital investment.

SOUTHERN PINES – Gatelinx Corp., a supplier of multimedia technologies, has signed a partnership with Internet Satellite Platform Inc. (ISAT), a provider of wholesale satellite-based Internet services to rural customers.

SOUTHERN PINES – Gatelinx Corporation, a leading provider of innovative IP multimedia technologies, and Elim International, a leading provider of B2B and B2G software solutions for federal, state and local government specialization firms, today announced that Elim International has signed an agreement to become a value added reseller and integrator for Gatelinx’s flagship product, Gatelinx Communicator.

ASHEBORO – FNB Corp. (NASDAQ: FNBN), the holding company for First National Bank and Trust Co., Rowan Bank and Dover Mortgage Co., announced it would have to take a second-quarter charge of $1.8 million to $2.5 million because of bad loans.

TROY -- First Bancorp (Nasdaq: FBNC), the parent company of First Bank, has declared a cash dividend of 24 cents per share, payable July 23 to shareholders of record as of June 30.

FAYETTEVILLE – Recent reports by a site location consultant show that pharmaceutical manufacturers, automotive industry manufacturers and distribution centers could save millions of dollars if they would locate their businesses in Cumberland County.

RALEIGH – Gov. Mike Easley today announced elements of his economic development agenda for the short session aimed at stimulating job growth in the small business sector.

PITTSBORO – Community leaders grappled Wednesday with developing an economic vision for Chatham County as it confronts rapid changes.

SANFORD – Central Carolina Community College trustees have named the three finalists to replace retiring President Marvin Joyner.

SANFORD – Central Carolina Community College has received a $122,000 grant from the North Carolina Community College System to enhance biotechnology education.

PITTSBORO – Biolex Inc., a protein therapeutics company, has acquired Epicyte Pharmaceutical Inc., a San Diego-based company focused on the discovery and development of human monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). Terms of the deal weren’t disclosed.

ABERDEEN – Alltel announced that about 130 telephone employees in North Carolina that are represented by the Communications Workers of America have ratified a new three-year contract.