692 replies to this topic

[Miesian Corners]

US Airways will begin CLT-GIG service December 2.  This route was awarded last May.  The airline's new agreement with Delta transfers a GRU slot for service between it and CLT.  Although the airline wants to start service in that city pair in 2010, it is subject to review by the Brazilian gov't.

[AirNostrumMAD]

cltbwimob, on Aug 25 2009, 05:38 PM, said:

When did US annouonce that they would not be flying to GIG?

Eh, I just read a post on A.net that US would just be flying to GRU and that thread got deleted, so, perhaps it was wrong

[dbull75]

Two more big updates for Charlotte:

1) on Thursday Humpy Wheeler will announce plans for a world-class Tire-testing facility in Charlotte. No details on the plans have been released yet, but an announcement is set to be made at the uptown Nascar Plaza. The officials are expected to announce the formation of a private consortium of automotive and motorsports companies to address tire safety, wear and energy efficiency issues.

2) NACA who recently announced plans to bring 1,000 jobs to Charlotte has now said they will double that number. Now, they plan to expand by 2,000 employees next year!

[cltbwimob]

SCR-Tech, a local pollution control firm is adding 61 jobs in Charlotte.  While not a very significant number, it is always good to see companies hiring.

[krazeeboi]

Some positive economic news from a recent report coming from the Brookings Institute which analyzed the economic performance of the nation's 100 largest metro ares during 2Q09:

• Several metro areas showed signs of beginning to recover from the recession, and the rate of economic decline slowed in many more. Charlotte was among 20 metro areas that posted at least small increases in GMP during the second quarter of 2009.

• Metro areas that specialize in banking, which includes Charlotte, had less severe job losses than the nation as a whole since the end of 2007.

[dbull75]

In what may be a very positive sign for the local banking industry, a local top level Wells Fargo exec has said that the layoffs appear to be pretty much over from her standpoint. The bank may soon start hiring in Charlotte as well. Over 100 people have been hired recently for a Fort Mill mortgage processing facility. They will also start hiring business school grads for the investment banking area and additional people for retail banking... From a personal standpoint I do know that some friends of mine who worked for Wachovia that who were initially laid off earlier this year have actually been brought back on at WF to do consulting work. At the end of last year, Wachovia had over 21,000 employees in the area. Through layoffs and attrition, Wells now has about 19,500 employees here. Very positive considering a lot of us here were thinking the local WF employment base would shrink much more.

[southslider]

Besides, how many of the 1,500 fewer Wells employees have been or will be absorbed by GMAC, Morgan Stanley, US Bank, and other area financials?

[atlrvr]

As optimistic as she made it sound, things are far from over from the layoff perspective, in my opinion.  She is head of retail banking, and doubt she knows much of what is going on in the other business lines.  Corporate functions still will take a sizable cut as the merger continues.

All that said, they are already re-hiring in some areas were cuts occurred, and cutting in SF in other areas where they prefer the Wachovia model.  As far as a net number, employment will probably remain relatively flat, but that is really because they are beefing up in some areas, and not because lay-offs are nearing and end.

The good news is that they will restart the IB Analyst program.  Big dollar jobs and affirms their commitment to inv. banking, which for all intents and purposes, is really based in Charlotte.

[CHARtoSF]

Wasn't sure where to post this so I'll put it here.

If you pick up USA TODAY's weekend issue, which is good for three days, look in the LIFE weekend section and there's an entire page (p9) dedicated to Charlotte and all the new attractions getting ready to open.
    
I ran across it by chance and I thought wow,  it's been a long time since I've seen some National recognition love given to Charlotte.  

[AirNostrumMAD]

I love this thread! Its so nice to hear all the good news! Heres a nice article on what made US Airways shares rise:

http://www.thestreet...0...E&cm_ite=NA



"What Lifted US Airways Shares?"

"US Airways' most valuable assets: positions at key Northeast airports and in Charlotte, N.C., the only southeastern hub besides Atlanta. "




I also read a few days ago that Parker said Charlotte would stay free from cuts as Charlotte is the "Jewel" of US Airways. I actually have a flight with US Airways tomorrow. Charlotte-Dayton.

Edited by AirNostrumMAD, 18 September 2009 - 09:33 PM.

[cltbwimob]

^
Despite the physical shortcomings of the airport (ie limited retail, outdated monitors, etc) CLT is truly a jewel in the Queen City's crown.  It is perhaps the most prized jewel of all...in my opinion even more prized than our banking status.  I read somewhere that the airport was either directly or indirectly responsible for approx. 100,000 jobs in the area...yes 100 thousand!  

Also, I read on Airliners.net that Doug Parker has told PHL if they keep moving other airlines into the int'l concourse, US Airways will just expand it's international service from CLT instead.  I don't know how old the A.net poster's info was, but if it's true, it's great news for the city.

Edited by cltbwimob, 18 September 2009 - 10:06 PM.

[JayGee]

cltbwimob, on Sep 19 2009, 12:04 AM, said:

^
Despite the physical shortcomings of the airport (ie limited retail, outdated monitors, etc) CLT is truly a jewel in the Queen City's crown.  It is perhaps the most prized jewel of all...in my opinion even more prized than our banking status.  I read somewhere that the airport was either directly or indirectly responsible for approx. 100,000 jobs in the area...yes 100 thousand!  

Also, I read on Airliners.net that Doug Parker has told PHL if they keep moving other airlines into the int'l concourse, US Airways will just expand it's international service from CLT instead.  I don't know how old the A.net poster's info was, but if it's true, it's great news for the city.

When you consider the advantages of CLT over PHL, primarily weather (especially in the winter) and congestion, its hard to believe CLT is not in a good position competing against PHL.

[cltbwimob]

The CRP monday memo states that Westinghouse Electric which currently employs 80 in Charlotte will grow to 100 by the end of the month and will hire 300 by 2014.  Also, don't know if anyone read earlier in the forum, but Westinghouse may move their HQ from PA to Charlotte.

So let's see...Our "Energy Hub" city may be coming to fruition.  So far the main players are Duke Energy, Shaw Power Group, Westinghouse, Areva, and Siemens.  Any others I forgot to mention?

Also a hurricane home safety lab is going into Chester County.  Although not many jobs are expected, the attention that the lab would bring to the area would be great.  I read that both Discovery Channel and the Weather Channel are interested in the tests that are to take place at the facility.

Edited by cltbwimob, 21 September 2009 - 11:07 PM.

[nashbill]

Nice as it would be for Westinghouse to move the HQ to Charlotte, I kind of  doubt it.  They are in the process of moving into their new digs in Cranberry Twp outside of Pittsburgh.

[rockhilljames]

cltbwimob, on Sep 21 2009, 11:05 PM, said:

Also a hurricane home safety lab is going into Chester County.  Although not many jobs are expected, the attention that the lab would bring to the area would be great.  I read that both Discovery Channel and the Weather Channel are interested in the tests that are to take place at the facility.

Oddly enough, I spoke to a friend of mine last night who will be doing the slab work on this project. $1million for the slab contract alone. The wind tunnel will be state of the art and the complex is supposed to be huge. Kind of an under-the-radar-kind of project...

[kickazzz2000]

http://www.charlotte...ory/966831.html

US Bancorp adding about 70 jobs in Corporate Banking to Charlotte.  Using a makeshift trading floor in Heart Tower for the moment, with plans to build one out.

Cited Charlottes talent pool specifically as a reason to concentrate here.

[Eastwestrob]

JayGee, on Sep 19 2009, 10:24 AM, said:

When you consider the advantages of CLT over PHL, primarily weather (especially in the winter) and congestion, its hard to believe CLT is not in a good position competing against PHL.

Not trying to step on anybody's toes with this ....but PHL is by far the worst airport to fly through at anytime of the year as far delays go.

[atlrvr]

kickazzz2000, on Sep 24 2009, 04:22 PM, said:

http://www.charlotte...ory/966831.html

US Bancorp adding about 70 jobs in Corporate Banking to Charlotte. Using a makeshift trading floor in Heart Tower for the moment, with plans to build one out.

Cited Charlottes talent pool specifically as a reason to concentrate here.

Interestingly, I don't believe US Bancorp has many if any investment bankers in NY.  It will be interesting to see if they do add additional IB business units (as the article implied) what else will be based in Charlotte.  It would be a big boost if the did equity capital markets (stocks) in Charlotte, as even Wachovia based most of this in NY and BofA certainly has 99.9% in NY in not 100%.

Speaking of Inv. Banks, Wachovia/Wells is rapidly growing a couple of their capital markets groups in Charlotte.  Some they trimmed too far last spring, and others are actually growing larger than they were pre-merger.

Also, Sagent Advisors (an technology industry investment bank) which recently opened in Charlotte, will be making its permanent home at Hearst Tower.

Lazard Middle Market (a boutique investment bank focusing on assisting medium sized companies) is moving from 400 N Tryon to Carillon.  I think they were sub-leasing before and Carillon is their permanent home.

Jeffries, a middle-market investment bank that opened in Charlotte a couple of years ago, has rehired a group of bankers that it previously layed off.

[aceboogie]

These updates are good. You can see how the unemployment is dropping. All we need now is to keep up the entrprenurial work.

[cltbwimob]

Two good bits of news today for the Charlotte area

1.  The housing market in the area seems to be recovering.  There was an article in the O about housing prices increasing for a 4th month this year.  Also sales rose slightly from June to July

2.  Universal Fiber Systems, owner of Premiere Fibers Inc. plant, is looking to add 20 jobs in Anson County and convert an existing yarn spinning line at it's Premiere Fibers Plant into a performance fabrics line for the military.

3.  Texas Roadhouse is looking to add at least 100 positions at a Matthews location.

While most of these are small announcements, it is a bit of good news to hear more people hiring.

BTW...Michael Smith, leader of Charlotte Center City Partners, said that they are making a trip to NY to tout Charlotte as a great place to locate an HQ.  Who wants to guess at which financial groups they might be meeting...maybe Morgan Stanley?