“North Carolina’s secret is out,” said Governor Josh Stein in a statement. “Our strong economic growth, natural beauty, and good people are attracting others from around the country.”
As the delay continues, schools are left deciding which services, programs, and staff members they can afford to keep. Across the state, teachers and other state employees are also dealing with rising bills and ever-increasing health insurance plans, with some seeing their monthly premiums nearly triple. With no budget to deliver much-needed raises, this amounts to a pay cut for many.
The facility, which broke ground in August 2025, is expected to support more than 2,000 jobs, including more than 500 high-wage manufacturing and more than 1,500 construction jobs.
“Duke Energy’s proposed rate hike is simply too high and comes as the company is also retreating on more affordable clean energy. At a time when families are struggling to make ends meet, we should be doing everything we can to make life more affordable, not less. I will continue to fight on behalf of every North Carolinian to lower costs and grow the economy,” said Stein.
At “Cars and Coffee” events in Charlotte and Greensboro, the conversation has shifted from performance specs to the “tariff tax.”
The top-tier ranking comes on the heels of a record-breaking year for the state’s economy. In 2025, North Carolina saw more than $24 billion in new capital investments and the announcement of over 35,000 new jobs—the strongest year for job growth in state history.
State Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey has approved an average rate increase of nearly 30% for ACA plans sold through Healthcare.gov. Causey said the increases reflect rising health care costs as well as provisions in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which President Donald Trump signed into law in July.
North Carolina Democrats on the state and federal levels are pushing a range of grants, initiatives, and legislation to support the state’s ongoing Hurricane Helene recovery efforts.
Though manufacturing is a very different business today than it was during North Carolina’s 20th-century furniture boom, High Point remains the heart of the state’s furniture industry. The city’s furniture leaders and mayor warned at a recent press event that federal tariffs are hurting sales and making long-term planning next to impossible.
BEACON MEDIA GUEST FEATURE By Sam Grote, CEO of N.C. Business Impact Forum Duke’s latest request to the state to increase our power bills even