CHARLOTTE – Wachovia Corp. plans to commit $75 billion over five years to small business loans, low-interest mortgages and other community development programs in eight Southeast states, including North Carolina, and Texas as part of its proposed merger with SouthTrust Corp.

ASHEBORO – Randolph County and Asheboro officials have approved splitting $630,000 in incentives to plastics maker Technimark Inc., which plans a $36.5 million expansion in town that is expected to create 79 jobs.

FAYETTEVILLE – M.J. Soffe Co. was named the recipient today of the third annual “Thank-You Series” honor from Methodist College for its contributions to the economy, quality of life and future of southeastern North Carolina.

ASHEBORO – William “Skip” Wood has been named president of Rowan Bank, a subsidiary of FNB Corp. He succeeds Bruce D. Jones, who resigned in July as president and chief executive to become regional president of Capitol Bancorp Ltd.

ROCKY MOUNT – RBC Centura Banks, Inc. (NYSE:RY), which has 28 branches in the Sandhills region, today contributed $75,000 to help the residents of central and southwestern Florida in the aftermath of Hurricane Charley.

RALEIGH – Progress Energy (NYSE: PGN), which has a large presence in the Sandhills, has been named to the Site Selection magazine list of “Top Utilities for Economic Development” for the third year in a row.

RANDLEMAN – Nextel Communications Inc. announced today that it will donate a portion of the proceeds from the sales of NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series merchandise and phone accessories to the Victory Junction Gang Camp, a state-of-the art medical camping facility in Randolph County for children with chronic and life-threatening illnesses.

SOUTHERN PINES – Angel investors and Moore County entrepreneurs now have a simple and accessible tool to help bring them together: the enhanced Angels for Moore website at www.angelsformoore.org.

PINEHURST – The No. 2 course at Pinehurst Resort has retained its No. 4 national ranking in the biennial list of the “Top 100 You Can Play” in the September issue of Golf Magazine.

SOUTHERN PINES – Gatelinx Corporation, a leading provider of innovative IP multimedia technologies, today announced a strategic partner relationship has been signed to supply core technologies for VidMe Communications LLC, a provider of next-generation voice and video over IP (VVOIP) services targeting consumers and small businesses.

FAYETTEVILLE – Fayetteville Technical Community College officials and Cumberland County economic development officials have unveiled plans for a Military Business Center at the college.

TROY – First Bancorp (Nasdaq: FBNC), the parent company of First Bank, has declared a cash dividend of 25 cents per share, payable Oct. 25 to shareholders of record Sept. 30.

FAYETTEVILLE – The Downtown Development Corporation announced today that the Lundy Group, Inc. has been selected as the preferred proposal for the Festival Park Plaza Building.

ASHEBORO – The U.S. Department of Commerce has recognized the successful international trade activities of two Randolph County manufacturers, presenting Energizer Battery and Starpet Inc. with Export Achievement Awards.

LAURINBURG – Embrex Inc., which has a poultry vaccine plant in the industrial park at Laurinburg-Maxton Airport, today announced it had filed suit against AviTech LLC of Hebron, Md., claiming patent infringement.

BUIES CREEK – Campbell University is closing in on the $70 million goal of its five-year capital campaign, according to campaign chairman and university trustee Tom Keith.

WINSTON-SALEM – BB&T Corp. has declared a fourth-quarter dividend of 35 cents per share, a 9.4 percent increase over the dividend paid a year ago. The dividend will be paid Nov. 1 to shareholders of record Oct. 15.

FAYETTEVILLE – Alltel has reached agreements with United States Cellular Corp. and TDS Telecom to purchase certain wireless properties, including a share of the Fayetteville market, for $140 million. The transactions are subject to regulatory approvals and are expected to close in the fourth quarter.