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Winston-Salem-based Reynolds American Inc. said Monday it plans to complete its acquisition of Greensboro rival Lorillard Inc. on Friday as part of a $27.4 billion merger that is expected to significantly transform the tobacco industry. Reynolds (NYSE: RAI) said the deal cleared a major hurdle when the federal district court approved the sale of certain cigarette brands and businesses to ITG Brands, the U.S. division of Imperial Tobacco that will be based in Greensboro. Reynolds said approval from the federal district court was the "final significant condition pending before RAI can proceed with its acquisition of Lorillard." The deal already received clearance from the Federal Trade Commission. http://www.bizjournals.com/triad/news/2015/06/08/reynolds-american-set-to-complete-lorillard-merger.html

Check out the lineups for this year's Downtown Summer Music series, Summer on Trade & Downtown Jazz. Still going strong after all these years. http://www.dwsp.org/music/

In the shadow of the Innovation Quarter, a homegrown startup incubator, started by local entrepreneur Mark Pegram, has set up shop on West Fifth near Small Batch Brewing. Links to both the incubator itself as well as a couple of companies operating from there. The City of Arts & Innovation marches on... https://www.facebook.com/wsincubator https://www.outpourfilms.com/ http://www.fastba.com/

Reynolds and Altria could eventually be similar in size says Michael Lavery, an analyst who covers Reynolds and Lorillard, based in the New York office of CLSA, a Hong Kong-based brokerage and investment group. He estimates that Reynolds' market share of adult smokers under the age of 30 will be over 45 percent once the deal closes. Lavery estimates Altria, maker of Marlboro, to have as much as 47.5 percent. http://www.bizjournals.com/triad/news/2015/05/29/reynolds-and-altria-could-become-similar-in-size.html

Reynolds-Lorillard deal gets FTC clearance Reynolds American Inc. and Lorillard Inc. have agreed to divest four cigarette brands in order to secure approval from the Federal Trade Commission for their proposed $27.4 billion merger. The proposed order requires Reynolds (NYSE: RAI) to divest to Imperial Tobacco Group the Winston, Kool, Salem and Maverick brands. Winston, Kool and Salem are Reynolds brands, while Maverick is a Lorillard (NYSE: LO) brand. Without the divestiture, the merger "would likely be anticompetitive," according to a press release from the FTC. It was a split decision with two members voting no. http://www.bizjournals.com/triad/news/2015/05/26/reynolds-lorillard-deal-gets-ftc-clearance.html

Here's a news release regarding the opening of another amenity downtown. With breweries, distilleries and cigar lounges, the entertainment options are ever growing. I've been to their location off Stratford in Hanestown. It has a pretty cool vibe. We are opening a shop right in the heart of Down Town Winston Salem. We will be located on the 6th and Trade Street. This is an ideal location due to it’s proximity of anchor establishments in the Downtown Area. We will have a 100 sq foot Spanish Cedar lined walk-in humidor and offer the best cigars to the Downtown Winston Salem market. It’s an exciting time and we have had plans to open a remote shop in the area for a while. The space will be built to suite our needs and will feature glass wall street frontage and a canopy. We hope to cultivate the cigar culture in Downtown Winston Salem and find it an appropriate location because of the deep history of tobacco this city has. http://twincitycigars.com/

More encouraging innovation coming from Winston's downtown research/university district, where collaboration between faculty & students are producing some great results. Anticipating this is one of many more to come. Here are highlights from the article: A collaboration between a Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center doctor and students at Forsyth Technical Community College has produced a patent-pending device designed to help train providers for high-risk pregnancy procedures. The device was invented by Dr. Joshua Nitsche, assistant professor of maternal-fetal medicine at Wake Forest Baptist, as a way to help providers develop hand-eye coordination and other skills. More specifically, it allows them to practice invasive procedures involved in assessing and managing high-risk pregnancies. He built his prototype using materials from a home-improvement store, and then took the invention to Wake Forest Innovations, the arm of the medical center dedicated to commercializing research and inventions developed by researchers and staff. That led to a partnership with the mechanical engineering technology program at Forsyth Tech, with work by students beginning last fall that led to the production of three professional-grade ultrasound-guided invasive procedure trainers in February. David Dinkins, an instructor in the Forsyth Tech program, said he's looking forward to further collaborations with Wake Forest Baptist. By interacting with professionals to develop an actual product they learned lessons beyond what they would normally get in the classroom," http://www.bizjournals.com/triad/news/2015/05/21/collaboration-between-wake-forest-baptist-forsyth.html

Here's a very good article from the WS Journal regarding the Wake Forest Innovation Quarter. The amount of growth in this district over the last half decade is nothing short of phenomenal. The investment is approaching a half a billion dollars. There is a large informative map that outlines the various buildings and associated tenants in them. The Northern district is almost completed and the focus will increasingly turn to the Central district where efforts will be focused on recruiting new companies to Winston-Salem. http://www.journalnow.com/news/local/wake-forest-innovation-quarter-transformation-still-taking-place-in-buildings/article_db85bf94-fc3a-11e4-b102-a7d5d9ea34ae.html

He's shooting for the last word. Colonial Williamsburg or Salem, MA as a comparison to my point is pure, unadulterated foolishness.

Charleston only gets somewhat partial credit in an apples/oranges way as that city is been rejuvenated more as a tourist attraction.

Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center’s internationally accredited nurse anesthesia program will move to 525@vine in Wake Forest Innovation Quarter this summer. (Courtesy of WFIQ news release) The addition of these students & faculty further enhances the "Downtown University District" aspect of the research park which has been on a sustained growth mode over the last couple of years. The longest continually running nurse anesthesia program in North Carolina will move 55 faculty, staff and students from its present location at the Medical Center’s main campus to the second floor of 525@vine. The move is expected to take place in July. The program will join two other School of Medicine programs that are already located at 525@vine. The Division of Public Health Sciences (PHS) and Department of Physician Assistant Studies (PA Studies) became some of the first tenants when the building opened in June last year. “Our nurse anesthesia program is the first in the country to be accredited internationally,” said Edward Abraham, M.D., dean of Wake Forest School of Medicine. “This move allows the program to continue to excel as a leader in nurse anesthesia education by placing faculty and students in a collaborative space with other School of Medicine programs and offering today’s students state-of-the-art technology and learning spaces.” The program will expand from 4,440 square feet of space at its current location to 11,000 square feet of new learning space at 525@vine. “Being next to the PHS and PA Studies programs opens the door for collaborative and inter-professional activities that were not available to us before,” said Michael Rieker, D.N.P., C.R.N.A., program director of Nurse Anesthesia. “We have a reputation as a top-quality program, and that will continue to advance with the help of the up-to-date learning, skills and simulation labs, collaborative classrooms and distance learning capabilities the new space provides.” The two-year Nurse Anesthesia program consists of 48 students with 24 students in each year’s class. Wake Forest School of Medicine confers the Master of Science in Nurse Anesthesia degree upon graduates of the program. Graduates become certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) and are prepared to plan, administer and manage anesthetic care to a wide range of patients and in diverse settings. The program that started in 1942 also offers a certificate in Global Health through collaboration with the School of Medicine. The move of the Nurse Anesthesia program to 525@vine this summer means all School of Medicine educational programs will be located in Wake Forest Innovation Quarter by July 2016 when the medical education building being built from renovating and refurbishing part of the former 60 series R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company complex opens adjacent to 525@vine. “The addition of the Nurse Anesthesia program to the Innovation Quarter will be another boost to this expanding downtown climate,” said Eric Tomlinson, D.Sc., Ph.D., chief innovation officer, Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, and president, Wake Forest Innovation Quarter. “Together with the impending move of the School of Medicine beginning in July 2016 when the medical education building opens, the Innovation Quarter proves to be one of the fastest growing urban-based districts for innovation in science, business and education in the United States.” Ninety-four percent of 525@vine will be leased with the arrival of the Nurse Anesthesia program. Other 525@vine tenants include: The Innovation Quarter YMCA of Northwest North Carolina; Flywheel, a co-working innovation space; Forsyth Tech at Innovation Quarter; and the headquarters of Clinical Ink, a provider of electronic data-capturing technology for clinical research. Mullen, a full-service marketing communications firm announced in January it would move in, December 2015.

Name any city in this state (or nation) that has an entire restored 18th Century historic district located immediately adjacent to their central downtown area as a living museum. Now that offers a City a certain degree of uniqueness unmatched by few if any other city. The park-like beauty of Old Salem offers just as much if not more of a recreational amenity as a "greenway". Which by the way, a greenway courses its way through Old Salem from a point Downtown & connects with the Salem Creek Greenway that winds its way all the way out to the Salem Lake Greenway, offering a direct route of more than 12 miles of greenway. Now that's some one of kind amenities. http://www.oldsalem.org/

In one of the more prominent collaborations among tenants in the IQ, this program shows great promise in engendering further positive growth for the research park & the greater downtown area. Targeting the fast-growing area of digital health, retail technology firm Inmar Inc. has teamed with downtown Winston-Salem co-working space Flywheel for a $25,000 business idea challenge that could launch the next big health app, or change how doctors leverage data to care for patients. Inmar Digital Health Challenge powered by Flywheel will run from April 30 to July 20, with five finalists then competing for the prize money and future funding opportunities. It is open nationally, but with an emphasis on the area between Wash, D.C. & Atlanta. The partnership between Inmar and Flywheel is thanks in large part to proximity — Inmar's headquarters neighbors Flywheel within downtown Winston-Salem's Wake Forest Innovation Quarter. "There's been an ongoing partnership, along with Inmar's desire to continue to bring business ideas to life," Bennett said. http://www.bizjournals.com/triad/news/2015/05/04/inmar-flywheel-launch-25-000-digital-health.html?page=all

Here's another national travel profile regarding the Camel City titled "Small City, Big Luxury: Winston-Salem in one Perfectly Indulgent Weekend" It's really great exposure for the City coming from a very upscale publication. The adjacency of the Yadkin Valley wine country & the growing availability of upper end accommodations & restaurants will continue to cause tourism to continue to grow. The Kimpton will definitely provide additional resources to attract upscale weekend travelers. The construction crews are working fast & furious on the Reynolds Tower. They really are pulling out all the stops. http://privateair.uberflip.com/i/503694 ... e-2015/224

Here's another national article relating events & updates on the Camel City. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lisa-snedeker/trading-tobacco-and-textiles-for-live-music-and-award-winning-films_b_7086962.html

The economic development future looks "very bright" for Winston-Salem, according to Southern Business & Development magazine. The magazine has named the city among the top 10 powerful major economies in the South that don't get enough national attention, a list that also includes Richmond, Va., and Knoxville, Tenn. (Question, does the Greensboro N&R count as a national media source? Just wonderin' ) Manufacturing remains a strong industry in Winston-Salem, with heavy equipment maker Caterpillar Inc. continuing to ramp up its workforce there, with the hope of creating nearly 400 full-time jobs by the end of 2015 and nutritional products company Herbalife Ltd. recently unveiling its more than $100 million facility and trumpeting plans to have more than 500 workers in place there by year's end. Winston-Salem, which primarily has been known as a manufacturing hub, has seen more diversity in recent years, including logistics and distribution, life sciences and green industries and others. With Wake Forest University and the regional office for the North Carolina Biotechnology Center, the area has been booming with biotech and life sciences, the magazine says. But perhaps the tide of national attention is turning for the city, as just this week the Wake Forest Innovation Quarter, a 240-acre research park campus, was featured in the New York Times. The city's economic development momentum also has been evident with plans for the nearly 1.8 million square feet and 120 acres of the Whitaker Park campus donated by R.J. Reynolds Tobacco for economic development. WPDA Inc., the nonprofit to which Reynolds donated the property, has plans of setting aside a portion of the net income derived from the property to go into a fund that could be used for economic development throughout Forsyth County. That money could, among other things, help cover some of the budget for Winston-Salem Business Inc., the city's private recruitment entity, or be used in the future to help lure in companies to the county. Also on Southern Business & Development's top 10 list: Baton Rouge, La.; Birmingham/Hoover, Ala.; Greenville/Anderson/Maudlin, S.C.; Hampton Roads, Va.; Knoxville, Tenn.; Little Rock/North Little Rock/Conway, Ark.; Louisville, Ky.; Richmond, Va.; Tulsa, Okla. Per: TBJ

Here's a great New York Times article on the happenings in the Innovation Quarter and the importance of tax credits to that effort. A nice gallery of pictures from the park also accompany the story. The overwhelming positive press nationally has really been gratifying for everyone involved with the development efforts in the Camel City http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/29/realestate/commercial/technology-overtakes-tobacco-in-winston-salem-nc.html#

Here's an advertorial from this month's issue of Business North Carolina magazine. Really nothing new to the report. It does provide a good primer on what's occurring locally. http://www.businessnc.com/clientuploads/Archive_Images/2015/April/April%2015%20Triad.pdf

Read the following in the TBJ, Wow, what a great problem to have as a small businessman. I've been noticing his efforts on my visits to the WestEnd Millworks to The Porch Cantina & Hoots Roller Bar. Scot Sanborn has been waiting months — even years — to see the fruits of his labors as head of Winston-Salem's Sutler's Spirit Co. hit the shelves of the state's ABC stores. And that day finally came on Tuesday, with Sutler's Gin, offered in a ceramic bottle and retailing for about $30, finally available at Forsyth County outlets. But a visit after Wednesday would find that shelf space empty again, after an initial order of of 15 cases — 90 bottles — sold out by Wednesday. "We did not even make a public announcement in an effort to keep some on the shelf for the grand opening," Sanborn said. That grand opening comes Saturday, with Sanborn opening the distillery at West End Mill Works to the public, who can get at look at what Sanborn says is the county's first legal distillery in more than two centuries. I talked with Sanborn last week after he had received word from the Triad Municipal ABC Board, which handles liquor sales in Forsyth County, that they'd begin stocking Sutler's Gin, the first in a product line that will later include rum and other spirits. Sanborn said he expects to begin bottling "large amounts" after this weekend's grand opening as he moves into full-blown production and sales, with plans to next target the Greensboro ABC Board, which covers Guilford County. "There's just so much work to do still," Sanborn said. Asked if he was looking forward to Saturday's celebration, Sanborn said he was. "I hope to finally start drinking some of my gin," he said.

Wanted to note the passing earlier this month of one of Camel City's premier DT developers and one of the giants in historic preservation efforts across the state & Southeast over the decades. The man had an impressive career. DeWayne Anderson, the founder of The Landmark Group of Winston-Salem, died Sunday at age 78 after a long illness. His long and sustained track record of converting old mills, factories and other historic properties into residential and mixed uses had earned Anderson numerous preservation awards and a reputation as a national expert on historic tax credits. But, as he told the Triad Business Journal during a profile interview back in 2007, it was never about the awards or the recognition. It was about bringing disparate groups together to accomplish a greater good. One of his most heralded projects was his redevelopment of 19th century tobacco properties in downtown Winston-Salem in 2001 into Piedmont Leaf Lofts, a luxury condominium project on East Fourth Street. That project would become an anchor for one corner of the ambitious and ongoing redevelopment of the former R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. complex into what is now known as Innovation Quarter. “DeWayne was really a catalyst for taking historic tax credits to convert abandoned buildings,” Winston-Salem Mayor Allen Joines said in a prepared statement. “He created a nucleus downtown that has grown to have tremendous impact. The ripple effect continues today.” http://www.bizjournals.com/triad/news/2 ... l?page=all

Sutler's Spirit Co. will hold its grand opening from 5-8 p.m. Saturday in the West End Mill Works Building. The company will offer distillery tours ad tastings, along with entertainment. The company will offer its products in vintage-style ceramic bottle similar to those used in the 1700's and 1800's. Sutler's Spirits is the first distillery in Winston-Salem or the Triad with another one named Broad Branch Distillery slated to open at the Big Winston complex on N. Trade Street in the coming weeks. The name of the distillery comes from an old Civil War era term "sutler" which was used to describe a merchant who sold provisions to soldiers. Source: WSJ

Winston-­Salem has been named a Startup Grind city, joining a global network of cities working to fuel innovation, economic growth and prosperity at the local level. Flywheel, a coworking innovation space in the Wake Forest Innovation Quarter, applied on behalf of Winston‐Salem and will be hosting Startup Grind events for the city and region beginning mid­‐May. Founded in 2010, Startup Grind is a global startup community designed to educate, inspire, and connect entrepreneurs. In more than 150 cities and 65 countries around the world, chapters host monthly Startup Grind events where local founders, innovators, educators and investors share their own success stories. “The selection process is very rigorous,” said Peter Marsh, cofounder of Flywheel. “We had to prove the vibrancy of our startup ecosystem and that we could execute compelling events with successful entrepreneurs on a regular basis.” The ratio of cities accepted versus total applications is around one in ten. Marsh will be a co-director of Startup Grind Winston­‐Salem, along with Flywheel Community Manager Jennifer Berg. Startup Grind is also a major initiative of Google for Entrepreneurs, extending the network of relationships even deeper into the global tech community. “Just as important as the events is the fact that Startup Grind has an unbelievable communication network through their project management platform,” Marsh said. “Now we can connect Flywheel members with the highest level of angel and venture firms, successful founders and domain experts.” Startup Grind founder and CEO Derek Andersen said Google For Entrepreneurs will help Startup Grind expand internationally by providing access to distribution, Google technology and financial support. “In the future, you will not need to be in Silicon Valley to be taken seriously as a tech startup,” Andersen said. “I just see so many places with such a high caliber of entrepreneurs.” Andersen said the monthly “fireside chat” interviews with local entrepreneurs are Startup Grind’s specialty. “We’re world­‐class at that one thing.” Startup Grind is a perfect fit for Flywheel’s mission and vision for entrepreneurship in the Wake Forest Innovation Quarter. “Very few for­‐profit coworking operators have a direct link to a multimillion-dollar commercialization enterprise right outside their door in the form of Wake Forest Innovations,” said Brad Bennett, another Flywheel cofounder. “This just expands the opportunities to connect.” The Wake Forest Innovation Quarter is one of the fastest growing urban-­based research parks in the United States, with a master plan for as much as 6 million square feet of world‐class office, laboratory and mixed­‐used space over its 145 developable acres. The first Startup Grind event is scheduled for mid‐May. Events will be posted each month on the Flywheel website. Source: http://flywheelcoworking.com/startupgrind/

Various Triad media outlets are reporting that Winston-Salem is in the running for 300 additional high paying jobs that could be created at the newly opened Herbalife Manufacturing & Innovation center in the former 800,000 square foot Dell facility. Local and state officials had previously approved more than $10 million of incentives for Herbalife in return for the creation of about 500 jobs by the end of 2015. The facility makes a variety of nutritional products, including its flagship Formula 1 nutritional shake mix, herbal aloe concentrate and an herbal tea concentrate. These 300 jobs would be in addition to the original 500. Herbalife spokesman Julian Cacchioli said in a statement to the Triad Business Journal on Tuesday that Herbalife "remains on schedule to create 500 jobs in Winston-Salem by the end of 2015, as we have consistently stated we would. We are now looking at our next stage of investment and job creation, and the Triad region is obviously one of a number of options we are considering.” Cacchioli did not disclose any other potential location options that Herbalife is considering but said the company is "looking at several other U.S sites and a few cities outside of the U.S." "We hope to make a final decision in the near future," The Winston-Salem City Council will consider $150,000 worth of incentives, and Forsyth County also will consider $150,000 for the additional jobs. It's being reported that about 30 percent of the jobs would be transferred from California. The remaining 70 percent would be hired locally in areas such as administration, technology and support operations. The average wage for the new positions would be $61,000, plus benefits. Herbalife would also invest over two years $2.34 million in building improvements and $1.17 million in machinery and equipment.

At the top of the page under the Urban Planet logo, there is a projects tab between the forum & members tabs, where someone could update all the information you are requesting, A.P.

Richard Craver/Winston-Salem Journal The appeal of new space and enhanced collaboration is leading Mullen to move its Winston-Salem office and 150 employees across downtown and into Wake Forest Innovation Quarter by December. Mullen, a full-service marketing and communication firm, will occupy 34,726 square feet on the third floor of the 525@Vine building that is adjacent to Inmar Inc.’s headquarters and Wake Forest BioTech Place. Mullen becomes the largest non-Wake Forest University tenant in 525@Vine. “We want to continue to be recognized among the most creative and innovative agencies in the world, and moving into the Innovation Quarter is an example of that commitment,” Taylor Bryant, president of Mullen NC, said in a statement. “This is an amazing opportunity for us to achieve two key goals: design an office space that really fuels collaboration and creativity; and continue our investment in the creative culture of Winston-Salem.” Mullen said it will gain in its new space a variety of designed collaboration spaces and open meeting rooms, along with a custom-designed photo studio, a sound studio and three state-of-the-art edit suites for post-production work for broadcast television and web content. “Mullen’s move into the Innovation Quarter is a significant development,” said Eric Tomlinson, president of the research park. “Not only is Mullen a nationally recognized, award-winning agency with some of the world’s most recognized brands as clients, but it represents a dynamic and creative culture that will have a tremendous impact on the entire Innovation Quarter.” The 230,000-square-foot building will be 89 percent occupied after Mullen completes its move. Chad Campbell, a research park spokesman, said there is 13,000 square feet available on the second floor and 9,000 square feet on the first floor. Other occupants of 525@Vine are Wake Forest School of Medicine’s Division of Public Health Sciences and Department of Physician Assistant Studies, Forsyth Technical Community College, Flywheel, Clinical Ink and the Innovation Quarter YMCA.