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Economic activity is up, unemployment is slightly down and plans to build, year-over-year, are up in Guilford County, according to a local economic report issued today.

In the newest Triad Business Index report, economist Don Jud notes that economic activity was up 0.2 percent in the county in August. The unemployment rate was down 0.1 percentage points, to 4.5 percent - a decrease of 0.7 percentage points from August of last year.

County employment stood around 231,364, up 0.2 percent from July. From August 2005 to August '06, Jud reports, county employment had risen 0.5 percent, about a third of the growth at the national level.

Residential building permits in the county were up 7.6 percent year-over-year, although single-family permits were down 4.8 percent.

And housing prices, adjusted for inflation, are down 0.5 percent year-over-year.

Jud's report also reviews the Triad as a whole. Economic activity throughout the area was up 0.4 in August, with fairly static unemployment. Residential building permits throughout the Triad were off 3.5 percent in August, Jud reports. Plans for residential building in the Triad had fallen by 19.6 percent year-over-year.

Hit up Tuesday's News & Record for details on rezonings for a Koury Corp. retail project and a city park. Both proposals nabbed approval from the city's Zoning Commission on Monday, but both will head before the City Council on Nov. 7.

The Koury project, which could include a stadium-seating movie theater, two 7,000-square-foot restaurants and 82,550 square feet of stores, passed the commission with a 5-1 vote. Commissioner Evelyn Miller, who works for Koury, recused herself, and commissioners Paul Gilmer and Susan Spangler were absent. Favorable votes of five or fewer commissioners automatically go to the council.

In other news ...

The major news out of last night's planning board meeting made it into today's paper: Despite much protesting by angry residents of Jessup Grove Road and the surrounding area, planning officials unanimously approved former NFL player Ricky Proehl's plans to build a 20-acre athletic park.

But the planning board, which met at 7 p.m., had a number of agenda items to review before getting to Proehl's request.

GREENSBORO — Carolina Precision Plastics will expand its North Carolina operations, creating 150 jobs in Greensboro and investing $4.5 million during the next three years, Gov. Mike Easley announced today.

The announcement was made possible in part by a $150,000 One North Carolina Fund grant, Easley said in a press release.

Carolina Precision Plastics specializes in injection molded plastics for the cosmetics, health and pharmaceutical industries. It's headquartered in Randolph County.

Sixty-five of the new hires will likely be laid-off Core Systems workers, Easley said.

Carolina Precision Plastics will operate from the former Core Systems building in Greensboro.

The average weekly wage of the new jobs will be $736 plus benefits, which is more than the Guilford County average weekly wage of $659 not including benefits, Easley said.

The One North Carolina Fund helps the state recruit businesses by providing financial assistance through local governments.

State real-estate gurus reported this week that existing home sales here slipped in September, compared to last year.

The N.C. Association of Realtors reported that existing sales fell 4 percent in September year-over-year, from 12,194 units last year to 11,763 this year. Total sales dollars neared $2.5 billion, and the average sale price for an existing home was up 1 percent to $211,988.

But the state is in the black year-to-date, one of only a few states marking growth in existing home sales. Compare that to stats from the national Realtors group, which reported a 12.6 percent decline year-to-date nationwide compared to the first eight months of 2005.

The state's labor force hit an all-time high in September, according to a news release from the Employment Security Commission.

Seasonally-adjusted employment increased by 18,887 to nearly 4.25 million. Unemployment also increased - by 4,063 - to 217,494. The state has seen growth of 119,829 employed individuals since September 2005.

In September, the state's unemployment rate went up to 4.9 percent, from 4.8 percent in July and August. That's the highest rate posted in the state this year, and it surpasses the nation's unemployment rate, which was 4.6 percent in September.

But the state's unemployment rate remains down year-over-year. It was 5.3 percent in September 2005.

County breakdowns of September unemployment come out in a week.

The average vacancy rate for apartments in the Triad is about 8.1 percent, indicating strong demand and fewer new apartments coming online in recent months.

But that could change soon. Nearly 3,200 units are in the planning stages, according to Real Data Apartment Market Research, a Charlotte-based group. Only 793 units are under construction right now, but planned apartments could start popping up in the Triad by the end of 2007, reports Engle Addington, a multi-family analyst for Real-Data.

Actually, some of these planned apartments could pop up before that. If you read today's business page, you likely saw the photo of a D.H. Griffin wrecker taking down the old Organic Pigments building at Martin Luther King and Gorrell downtown. The first of 250-plus apartments over there could open this summer. That project, called City View, is a collaboration between Bob Isner, Milton Kern and Signature Properties.

Real Data predicts that vacancy rates will improve 6 percent to 7 percent during the next year, but it's a toss-up after that, as more apartments come online and saturate the market.

Older apartment communities - six to 15 years old - boasted the lowest vacancy rates in Real Data's study - 6.4 percent. Those units account for about 23 percent of apartments in the Triad.

The 8.1 percent overall vacancy rate is actually the lowest experienced in the Triad as a whole since March 2001, but it's nowhere near the 3.4 percent vacancy rate the area reported 10 years ago.

Catch the jump for the details ...

So if you want to try your hand at rock climbing on an outdoor wall, head over there this weekend. The outdoor retailer will offer special promotions all weekend.

I headed over to the Shops for yesterday's grand opening, and the lines outside stores were just unbelievable. Some stores, including White House|Black Market, opened early, while others, like Soma by Chico's, waited until 10 a.m. Soma and Ben & Jerry's attracted some of the largest crowds.

I'd been interested in writing a story on traffic over there but was holding off until I could see customers in action. I'm not going to judge the project by what I saw yesterday, but I had a hard time navigating the parking lots, and I nearly got run down by a woman in a minivan who wasn't watching where she was going.

If you stop by the Shops, let me know what you think of the traffic flow.

The BBB that serves this part of North Carolina has some new top brass.

Martha Miller, president of Choice Community Credit Union, was elected chairwoman of the BBB's board of directors Thursday night at the group's 45th annual meeting and awards ceremony.

Other officers include:

* Vice chairman: Terry Slatter of Slatter Management Services.
* Secretary: Amy Field Rumley of Merle Norman Cosmetics.
* Treasurer: Jeff Hill of Edward Jones Investments.

New board members (elected or appointed) include:

* Mike Chisholm of Chisholm Service, Inc.
* Scott Fleming of Replacements, Ltd.
* Will Hitchcock of Reidsville Nissan.
* Keith Hoile of Volvo Trucks International.
* Todd Wilson of Wilson & Sons Termite and Pest Control.
* Kathy Dollyhigh of Dollyhigh Photography.
* Joe Johnson of Johnson/Massey Builders/Carolina Gutter Magic.

The BBB honored two local businesses Thursday evening, in addition to electing board members and officers.

CarMax and Hair Removal and Body by Irish received the BBB's Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics. The award goes to companies deemed to maintain a commitment to ethical business practices. Local winners can participate in an international ethics program sponsored by the Council of Better Business Bureaus.

Runners-up for the award were Hanes-Lineberry Funeral Homes, Navis Pack & Ship Center and Trophy Sports of Greensboro.

Replacements Ltd. garnered special recognition for winning locally in 2005 and receiving second-place in the international competition this year.

There's just so much going on right now on the retail scene that I wasn't able to fit everything into this Sunday's Savvy Shopper column.

That's when the blog comes in handy - no space limits or word counts in the virtual world. There are events going on this week and coming weekend at Friendly Shopping Center, the new Shops at Friendly Center and New Garden Village.

Swoozie's, which opened at the Shops last week, will hold an event Thursday from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. to benefit the Greensboro Children's Museum. The paper and gifts shop will donate 10 percent of the proceeds to the museum.

Not to be one-upped, nearby Ben & Jerry's (which boasted an unbelievable line before it's Thursday morning opening last week) will give 25 percent of its Saturday sales to the mueaum. The ice-cream shop, located in the central gathering area of the new center, opens at 10 a.m. Saturday.

Over at the original Friendly, a master goldsmith will visit Schiffman's from noon to 5 p.m. Wednesday. Juergen Hass will demonstrate the Wellendorff company's work and show of its fall collections at the store.

And New Garden Landscaping & Nursery will hold its 18th annual Harvest Festival from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at New Garden Village. New this year: A cooking contest featuring harvest festival desserts. Call 665-0291 for details, or stop by the store at 5572 Garden Village Way in Greensboro.

Biz writer Donald Patterson wrote about this possibility in the News & Record in July. (I'd like to link to the story here, but, unfortunately, I can't find it anywhere that's not subscription only or paid archives.)

Today, Downtown Greensboro Inc. announced that it has selected branding studio Graphica as a partner in a campaign to promote the rejuvenated city center. Economic development group DGI plans, with Graphica's help, to launch a publicity blitz using a variety of media before the end of the year.

The branding shop, located at 306 Market Street, works with corporate branding, Web and interactive design, consulting, technology and marketing services. Its clients include Glaxo, Krispy Kreme, Burger King, Lucky 32, Green Valley Grill, Triad Stage and UNCG.

According to a DGI news release, downtown has picked up nearly 60 retailers, restaurants and service businesses during the past year. The group estimates investments in completed and planned projects at more than $300 million. Downtown officials previously have said the area needs to be marketed like a Friendly Shopping Center or Four Seasons Towne Center, even though it has a smaller advertising budget.

Graphica will review existing data on downtown, and potentially conduct interviews and focus group meetings, to determine how best to market downtown.

** Update: Our friendly folks in online found the link for me for the story we ran about the downtown marketing campaign. At least I know someone is reading this blog now. **

Another one we've written about before. (This one with a link I actually can find.)

Let's Dish! will open Friday at 2130-K New Garden Road. You know the concept: Quick, build-able dinners for busy parents or singletons and empty-nesters with hectic lifestyles.

The Minneapolis-based chain tries to differentiate itself by stressing fresh, seasonal ingredients that go into dishes like meatloaf with garlic mashed potatoes, pork chops with apples and chicken with sugar snap peas and plum sauce. Let's Dish! stores also offer Dish-n-Dash services, which allow customers to choose and pick up meals prepared by store staff.

One cool note about the local Let's Dish! - one of the partners in it is Darryl Deitsch, former owner of longtime music shop B.B.'s New & Used CDs. Deitsch is partnered with Holly Calabro in the franchise effort.

The local Let's Dish! will hold an open house Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The local Better Business Bureau sent out a warning today to tip off area consumers to a mail scam bearing the BBB name.

According to a BBB news release, consumers in several southeastern states, including North Carolina, have received a letter bearing the name of JG Wentworth & Associates. The letter claims that the recipient is a winner of a U.S.A. Mega Millions Jackpot and that he has been approved for a lump-sum payment of $1.2 million, said local BBB president Pauline Morrison.

The letter includes a check for $3,000 and instructs the recipient to deposit the check in the bank and wire the same amount to a Canadian address. Red flag, anyone?

The consumers who fall for the scam find that the deposited funds aren't available a few days later. At that point, well, they're pretty much screwed. Not only have they said goodbye to $3,000, but they've also given up personal data, including bank account numbers, that could put them in danger of identity theft.

The BBB particularly has its hackles up over this scam because the letter claims the company is a "proud member of the International Better Business Bureau," according to the news release.

That's kind of funny, because:

a) There is no International BBB.
b) The company isn't a member of any U.S. or Canadian BBB.
c) Penn.-based company J.G. Wentworth is a BBB member.

To check whether a company really is a BBB member, hit up the main Web site.

ATCOM Business Telecom Solutions announced today that the company has signed a deal with Furnitureland South to provide a new telecom system for sales and customer-service calls.

According to an ATCOM news release, the system will allow Furnitureland South operators to monitor and track calls, retain more details about them and run reports on incoming calls and their status. The bottom line: Better customer service, with shorter hold times and quicker calls.

Jamestown showplace Furnitureland South comprises more than 1 million square-feet of discount furniture on Riverdale Drive.

ATCOM is a privately held firm based out of RTP, with a regional office in the Triad. The company serves more than 5,000 businesses with services including VoIP, biz telephone systems, wireless systems and video conferencing.

A local design company could close or sell before the end of the year.

Color Works, which markets services including plastic decorating and custom painting, is on the chopping block.

Owner Bush Industries, a N.Y.-based furniture group, will close the facility and lay off about 46 workers if it can’t find a buyer by Dec. 16, according to a letter the company sent to Mayor Keith Holliday.

Bush currently is negotiating with a potential buyer over the sale of the facility, located at 3010 Executive Drive.

Greensboro-based Industries of the Blind has brought its first blind executive director to the non-profit group.

Newly appointed ED Dan Kelly comes to the agency from National Industries of the Blind in Alexandria, Va., according to a news release from the local group. Kelly received a B.A. in organizational management and poli sci from Gustavus Adolphus College and an MBA from George Mason University. He attended UVa.'s Darden School of Management.

Kelly also has completed in the Paralympic Games, winning three gold medals, according to the release.

RF Micro Devices said Tuesday that it lost $20 million in its second fiscal quarter, or 10 cents a share, due to a $34 million charge it incurred for an investment in Jazz Semiconductors.
RF reported record revenue for the quarter of $247 million, which is a 3.6 percent increase over the first quarter’s earnings.
The semiconductor maker also predicts that its net income will be 10 cents a share next quarter, with revenues reaching as high as $280 million.

Shoppers in more than 150 Harris Teeter stores throughout southeast will be able to send and receive money while picking up a gallon of milk or fixings for dinner.

Western Union Company, based in Colorado, announced Monday that its services will be available in all these Harris Teeter stores by Nov. 8. Customers will have access to money transfer services and will be able to send bill payments, prepay for telecom services, purchase a money order payment instrument or put money on a Western Union prepaid MasterCard.

Officials with both companies touted the deal in a Monday news release.

Dell plans to announce a new program for computer recycling in 50 N.C. counties at a news conference this afternoon.

The announcement is slated for 1:30 p.m. at Dell's headquarters in Winston-Salem. According to a news release from Dell, the recycling program is being launched in conjunction with Goodwill Industries of Northwest North Carolina, Central North Carolina and the Southern Piedmont.

Check here for more details this afternoon.

WINSTON-SALEM — Dell and three regional Goodwill centers launched a free computer drop-off program Wednesday.

Residents of 49 N.C. counties now can recycle old computers through “Reconnect,” a program that aims to divert more than 5 million pounds of computer equipment from landfills during the next year.

Consumers can take donations to 114 Goodwill Industries donation centers or stores in northwest, central and southern North Carolina and five S.C. counties. For a list, visit www.reconnectpartnership.com or call (866)-487-3873.

Donors should remove data from their equipment before delivering it to a donation center and should receive a receipt from Goodwill staff. All proceeds will go to Goodwill’s non-profit job-training and employment programs.

Dennis Roberts of furniture group Bush Industries returned my call today to comment on the news that Bush will sell or close local subsidiary Color Works by the end of the year.

Roberts said N.Y.-based Bush has been worried by financial slippage at Color Works, a company that decorates and details products including cell phones. "We don't know much about the market, so we don't know if it's a market downturn," Roberts said.

"The company is losing money, and what it is, it's a very small part of our business," that's taking up a significant amount of time and management effort, Roberts said.

He's optimistic about negotiations to sell the company, but Bush isn't ready to talk about a buyer.