Business North Carolina's July 2021 magazine spotlights the state's top job-creating projects announced over the last year and examines retail giant Amazon's impact. A feature describes Tesla-powered miner Piedmont Lithium's plans to make Gaston County a rock-solid link in the auto-supply chain. The issue also features Ursula Carmona's rise from self-taught DIY blogger to a media sensation with high-profile sponsors. Other features explain the state's massive opioid settlement that could recoup nearly $50 million per year, expanding boat building programs in eastern N.C., child care providers' rebound from a pandemic attendance slump, Raleigh air purifier manufacturer Oransi's sleek products, and how Wilmington-based Zimmer Development is considering expansion into downtown Raleigh. The monthly Town Square features Summerfield, a picturesque Triad suburb eyeing development to attract newcomers while maintaining its wide-open spaces.
