As economic headwinds subside, the commercial real estate lending business for U.S. banks has hit an inflection point. For the first time in five years, a majority of banks are finally talking about their ability to grow their loan portfolios. While the sentiment among banks is neither unanimous, nor the projected lending growth strong, bank [...]

Organic retailer Whole Foods Market plans to open up to 28 stores this year and as many as 32 stores in 2013 as part of a strategy to accelerate its growth.  A large portion of that growth will take place in North Carolina, where Whole Foods (NASDAQ: WFM) plans to open stores this year in Greensboro, [...]

Gov. Beverly Perdue’s administration is trying to attract a company to invest in Brunswick County and bring what could be 1,100 jobs to southeastern North Carolina.  The effort comes almost four months after a similarly-sized project fell through amid partisan acrimony.  Perdue said over the weekend she planned to have breakfast Monday with company executives [...]

A North Carolina pharmaceutical business is expanding and adding a second shift at its North Charleston operations. AAIPharma Services Corp. announced the investment in its facility off Leeds Avenue today. It also said it is adding onto its Wilmington, N.C., laboratory and technology center. More: http://www.postandcourier.com/news/2011/dec/29/pharmaceutical-firm-expand-north-charleston/