LILLINGTON – Tomsed Corp., which designs, manufactures and sells turnstile and crowd control equipment, has announced plans to expand its local manufacturing operations and create up to 20 new jobs.

SOUTHERN PINES – Sprint announced today that it has introduced Sprint Ethernet Services in the Sandhills, offering businesses the increased bandwidth needed to support the convergence of applications across multiple business locations.

OVERLAND PARK, Kan., and RESTON, Va. – Sprint (NYSE: FON) and Nextel Communications, Inc. (Nasdaq: NXTL), which both have a large presence in the Sandhills, today announced that their boards of directors have unanimously approved a definitive agreement for a merger of equals.

WASHINGTON – Sprint has been honored by the United States Chamber of Commerce Center for Corporate Citizenship as a leader in corporate stewardship among large businesses.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Small Business Administration is seeking comments from the general public on key issues relating to its small business size standards, the rules used by the SBA and other federal agencies to determine whether a business is small.

SANFORD – When debate about armoring American military vehicles in Iraq exploded earlier this month, one Sanford company was already hard at work to solve the problem.

RALEIGH – Progress Energy (NYSE: PGN) today announced its board of directors has approved an early retirement program to be offered to its employees in early 2005.

RALEIGH – The board of directors at Progress Energy (NYSE: PGN) today voted to increase the dividend on the company’s stock from 57.5 cents per share to 59 cents, marking the 17th straight year the dividend has gone up.

RALEIGH – Progress Energy (NYSE: PGN) has announced that its annual Project Share campaign raised $681,000 in 2004. The entire amount of funds raised has already been distributed to families in the Carolinas who need assistance paying energy bills.

WASHINGTON – The Edison Electric Institute has honored Progress Energy with its Emergency Response Award for the utility’s efforts to restore power in the wake of an unprecedented series of powerful storms that pounded Florida, South Carolina and North Carolina over a five-week period last August and September.

RAEFORD – Gov. Mike Easley announced today that Military Manufacturing Group, a producer of defense-related products, will open its first facility in Hoke County, creating 94 jobs and an investment of $1.3 million.

MOUNT GILEAD – McRae Industries, Inc. (Amex: MRIA; MRIB) has announced that it has completed its preliminary review of its inventory at July 31, 2004, the last day of the company’s 2004 fiscal year.

SANFORD – After two economic officials sifted through a mixed review of the Lee County’s economic health one year ago, they appeared relieved to share more positive news during an annual assessment offered yesterday.

SANFORD – A center to help disabled job seekers develop computer skills will be opening soon at LCI Inc., thanks to a $100,000 grant from the Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust.

RALEIGH – In the first agreement of its kind in the South, horse owners who frequently travel out of state with their animals for horse shows and festivals can take advantage of a new agreement between 12 states that will eliminate the need to obtain monthly animal health certificates.

FAYETTEVILLE – The Golden LEAF Foundation Board, in partnership with the North Carolina Community College System, has awarded Fayetteville Technical Community College a total of $166,950 for two projects benefiting the colleges’ Associates in Applied Science Biotechnology program.

ASHEBORO – FNB Corp. (NASDAQ: FNBN), the holding company for First National Bank and Trust Company, Rowan Bank and Dover Mortgage Company, announced today that Rowan Bank and First National operations are fully integrated.

RALEIGH – The U.S. Small Business Administration has recognized First Citizens Bank (Nasdaq: FCNCA) as the top large bank lender of 504 loans in North Carolina for 2004.

CHARLOTTE – Cingular Wireless customers in North and South Carolina who use wireless data services are in for big gains – in performance and speed – because the company announced today the deployment of EDGE in those markets.

RALEIGH – Gov. Mike Easley announced today a new weekly trans-Pacific container service from China to the Port of Wilmington. In the first year of operation, business activities resulting from this new shipping service will represent 350 direct jobs, with additional statewide economic benefits of 20,600 related jobs and $1.5 million in state and local tax revenues.

LAURINBURG – Charles Craft, Inc. announced today that it will close two of its three textile plants on Feb. 12, putting a combined 313 people out of work at its Laurinburg and Siler City facilities.

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK – The Council for Entrepreneurial Development is presenting its December Technology Forum on a topic affecting more and more technology-based entrepreneurial companies – offshore outsourcing.

RALEIGH – Capital Bank Corporation (Nasdaq: CBKN) has announced that its board of directors approved a quarterly cash dividend on its common stock of 6 cents per share. The dividend will be paid on Jan. 18 to shareholders of record as of Jan. 3.

MOCKSVILLE – Bank of the Carolinas (OTC Bulletin Board: BCAR), which has branches in Asheboro and Carthage, announced that it has commenced a public offering of up to 400,000 shares of its common stock.

CHAPEL HILL – Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina has announced that it is launching a new group Health Savings Account product with Mellon Financial Corporation’s Human Resources & Investor Solutions business for North Carolina employers.

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK – Biolex of Pittsboro is one of six companies selected by the Council for Entrepreneurial Development to present at Venture 2005, which will be held April 26-27 at Pinehurst Resort.

WINSTON-SALEM – BB&T Corporation (NYSE: BBT) has announced that it is now offering a website in Spanish – http://www.BBandT.com/espanol – that provides Spanish-speaking clients in the United States with information about BB&T and its Hispanic Initiative.

ROCKINGHAM (December 21) - Board of Commissioners Chairman Kenneth Robinette today announced that Laticrete International, the industry leader for tile adhesives and grout, will locate its newest manufacturing facility in Richmond County, bringing an investment of $10 million to the area and creating 75 jobs.

ASHEBORO – The board of directors of FNB Corp. (Nasdaq: FNBN) has declared a regular quarterly dividend of 15 cents per share, which is the same rate as paid in the prior quarter. The dividend will be paid on Jan. 20 to shareholders of record on Dec. 30.

FAYETTEVILLE – DAK Americas LLC has announced that it will spend $2.28 million at its Cedar Creek plant to improve product handling, expand rail storage facilities, and add facilities for transloading product from rail cars.