ROCKINGHAM – Viking Pools, makers of composite pools and spas, announced today that it plans to build a plant in the Rockingham West Industrial Park, creating 50 new jobs and investing $2 million.

RALEIGH – “Almost a hundred percent increase.” That’s how Larry Keen, vice president for Economic and Workforce Development for the North Carolina Community College System, described the tremendous growth in New and Expanding Industry Training in the past 12 months.

SANFORD – The Pantry, Inc. (Nasdaq: PTRY), the leading independently operated convenience store chain in the southeastern U.S., today announced that it has completed the acquisition of six Fuel Mate convenience stores in North Carolina.

LAURINBURG – For the second consecutive year, St. Andrews Presbyterian College in Laurinburg received recognition from “The Washington Monthly” as one of the nation’s top 200 liberal arts colleges.

SANFORD – Workshops offering on-site small business loan applications and other small business information will take place Sept. 20 in Fayetteville and Sept. 21 in Sanford.

SANFORD – Sanford’s vigorous economy has been recognized once again, this time with a ranking of 48th in economic strength among nearly 600 small cities across the United States.

LAURINBURG – New graduates at St. Andrews Presbyterian College on average leave school with the second lowest debt in the nation for all liberal arts colleges, according to U.S. News & World Report.

RALEIGH – The World Trade Center North Carolina has reopened as a program of the Research Triangle Regional Partnership and will coordinate implementation of the global competitiveness strategy for the 13-county region, which includes Chatham, Harnett, Lee and Moore counties in the Sandhills.

RALEIGH – Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina President and CEO Bob Greczyn has been elected to a two-year term as chairman of the Research Triangle Regional Partnership board of directors.

RALEIGH – RBC Centura Banks, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Royal Bank of Canada (TSX, NYSE: RY), and Atlanta-based Flag Financial Corporation (Nasdaq: FLAG) today announced the signing of a definitive merger agreement pursuant to which RBC Centura Banks, Inc. will acquire Flag Financial Corporation and its bank subsidiary, Flag Bank.

RALEIGH – Progress Energy (NYSE: PGN) announced a second-quarter net loss of $47 million, or 19 cents per share, compared to a net loss of $1 million, or 1 cent per share, for the same period last year.

PINEHURST – Amateur golfers from 22 states are headed to Pinehurst Resort this week to compete in the 2006 BASF People vs. the Pros at Pinehurst, a unique reality television event being held Saturday through Aug. 22.

RALEIGH – The North Carolina Technology Association, the primary voice of the technology industry in North Carolina, is bringing together top officials from the military, FBI, homeland security, and the intelligence community to witness the relevant capabilities of North Carolina technology companies at the Defense and Security Partnership Conference this week in Charlotte.

RALEIGH – Prior to the General Assembly’s adjournment for the year, the Teamsters and a coalition of environmental groups succeeded in passing a one-year moratorium on new mega-landfills in North Carolina.

RALEIGH – North Carolina’s workforce training programs are among the best in the nation, ranked 4th in the U.S. by Expansion Management magazine.

RALEIGH – Gov. Mike Easley today signed into law House Bill 2170, “An act to replace the tax credits generally available under the William S. Lee Quality Jobs and Business Expansion Act with more narrowly focused credits for job creation and business investment.”

RALEIGH – Forbes.com, the website of Forbes Magazine, has named North Carolina the third best state for business in the nation.

TROY – The Board of Directors of First Bancorp (Nasdaq: FBNC), the parent company of First Bank, has declared a cash dividend of 19 cents per share payable Oct. 25 to shareholders of record as of Sept. 30.

RALEIGH – “If community colleges and public universities are to be effective in moving North Carolina's economy forward,” says Parker Chesson, “the two systems will have to change and collaborate.”

CHARLOTTE – For 1st quarter 2006, the Carolinas AGC Construction Barometer remained virtually unchanged from 2005 year-end.

RALEIGH – The newest advantage of North Carolina’s National College Savings Program is a state income tax deduction for contributions.

CHARLOTTE – Cingular Wireless, the nation’s largest wireless carrier, has added 17 new cell sites in Raleigh and the eastern portion of North Carolina, including new coverage along U.S. 501 between Laurinburg and Rowland.

FAYETTEVILLE – Cape Fear Valley Health System has earned full re-accreditation from the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations following an intensive site visit by a team of five surveyors earlier this year.

MOCKSVILLE – Bank of the Carolinas (Nasdaq: BCAR) reported that its reorganization into a bank holding company form of organization was completed at the close of business on Aug. 18.

WINSTON-SALEM – BB&T Corporation (NYSE: BBT) is second in the nation in home mortgage customer service satisfaction, and first among banks, according to J.D. Power and Associates.

WINSTON-SALEM – BB&T Corporation (NYSE: BBT), principal subsidiary Branch Banking and Trust Company, has entered into a purchase agreement to buy insurance premium finance company AFCO Credit Corporation and its Canadian affiliate, CAFO Inc., from Mellon Financial Corporation.

LAURINBURG – For the third time this month, a national publication has recognized St. Andrews Presbyterian College for the high quality of its education.

RALEIGH – The North Carolina Technology Association, the primary voice of the information technology industry in North Carolina, today finalized the program for its annual Leadership Conference with the addition of presentations and panel discussions on education, security and customer service.

FAYETTEVILLE – The Defense and Security Technology Accelerator, a new statewide innovation asset formed to accelerate the startup growth of defense technology companies, will be located in the Williamsburg on Ramsey building in Fayetteville.

FAYETTEVILLE – Fayetteville Technical Community College today released the results of a workforce study on the job impact of the Base Realignment and Closure, and the study estimates that 1,100 permanent and 2,390 temporary jobs will be created in the next five years.

CHARLOTTE – Bank of America Corporation (NYSE: BAC) has announced the pricing of $3 billion in aggregate principal amount of its senior and subordinated notes.