Michael Jordan returned to Wilmington in early May to cut the ribbon on the first of two medical clinics. Novant Health announced in early 2021 that the six-time NBA champion had donated $10 million to help open two Novant Health Michael Jordan Family Medical Clinics in New Hanover County. The first clinic, at the corner of 15th and Greenfield streets, opened in Apri ...

Wilmington-based health technology company Predicate Healthcare Performance Group (HPG) has been drawing attention in recent months. Predicate uses its AI software platform, OpenDX, to help health care providers diagnose sepsis. The technology will likely expand to help treat a host of illnesses in the future. Morris Nguyen, co-founder and CEO of the AI health care c ...

The Wilmington area has been thrust into the national spotlight as the Cape Fear River Basin has provided the backdrop this year for federal regulations on drinking water. Seven years ago, the area came to know per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and GenX after the StarNews published a story about its presence in the region’s drinking water. In the followin ...

A vaccine research project out of the University of North Carolina Wilmington was approved for grant funding in NCInnovation’s inaugural cycle in May. The award was part of $5.2 million that NCInnovation (NCI) approved for eight research projects at seven of the state’s public universities in the UNC System. The round came four months after the General Assem ...

Pine Forest Cemetery off North 16th Street languished under weeds about 20 years ago. “You couldn’t identify anything,” said Wayne Lofton, a member of the Wilmington landmark’s board of directors. He said the 15-acre resting place, established in the 1870s for members of Wilmington’s Black community and other minorities, contains the gra ...

A good friend’s end-of-life experience at Lower Cape Fear LifeCare back in 2006 introduced Gwen Whitley to the nonprofit hospice and palliative care organization, and the now president and CEO has never looked back. For seven years, Whitley has led the organization that serves 1,200 patients daily across a nine-county service area. Whitley’s friend, who w ...

In May, one of the largest private fermented beverage manufacturers in North America, FedUp Foods, announced it was expanding into Wilmington. Sarah Mullins and Jeannine Buscher founded FedUp Foods in Asheville after making kombucha together for their children. Now, FedUp Foods manufactures kombucha, pre- and probiotic sodas, Tepache and functional cold brew coffee. ...

Leland’s economic development mission is to promote activities that will improve the economic vitality and sustainability of the community, driving the success of local businesses and ensuring a high quality of life for residents. The life science sector presents a prime opportunity for Leland to attract, launch and retain businesses that offer quality local jobs, ...

The Wilmington metropolitan area’s economy has experienced significant growth over the last four years. As of April, it now boasts 16,000 more jobs than in the same month of 2019. While almost all sectors have benefited from this growth, the health care sector was not only central to this transformation but is now the largest sector with 25,600 jobs and represe ...

Officials have emphasized boosting the health care workforce this year, including allocating millions of dollars in grant funding and expanding educational programs. Other expansions include a local clinic and local ACO. 1. Workforce Funding Infused with significant funding from the New Hanover Community Endowment, a project intended to help train more health care wo ...