David Billstrom News Today

There has been another big round of closures of small American garment makers. Most blame is directed at tariff-ducking by Temu and Shein, but things go well beyond that.

PPE manufacturer Fire-Dex is filling the gap Kitsbow, the now-shuttered, American-made cycling apparel brand, left in North Carolina.

The auto industry has been dealing with challenges lately, such as higher interest rates, but analysts said there are nuances, and they stressed despite some rhetoric, sales of electric vehicles are encouraging. News headlines have surfaced about electric vehicles not moving quickly off dealership lots. For example, industry service group Cox Automotive recently estimated Ford had 113 days worth of inventory for its all-electric Mustang SUV model. ...

In a recent study, researchers at the University of Maryland found personal data remained on many used cellphones purchased through a police auction website. Police departments typically acquire phones through civil asset forfeiture, but are sometimes the destination for items from the airport lost and found. Over a period of months, UMD researchers purchased 228 used phones from PropertyRoom.com, a reseller partnering with thousands of police departments. ...

Growing energy prices have Virginians seeking relief to high utility bills. Earlier this year, Appalachian Power announced its customers will see a $20 increase in their electric bills. As the world moves to a more sustainable climate future, there are programs to help people make their homes more energy efficient, thus reducing energy use. ...

In the quest for economic growth, some small businesses in North Carolina are facing challenges in accessing funding from federal economic stimuli, such as the Infrastructure Bill, Build Back Better, and the American Rescue Plan Act. The efforts have allocated billions of dollars for clean energy projects and have the potential to reshape the landscape for small companies. David Billstrom, owner of the consulting firm Flashing Red Light, who used to head a manufacturing company, said limited a...

Kitsbow, the Old Fort based maker of premium cycling clothing and accessories, was purchased by its employees with the help of a group of local North Carolina investors on Monday,

Kitsbow, the maker of cycling clothing and accessories, announced it was purchased on January 3, 2022 by its employees, with assistance from local North Carolina investors, after ten years as a privately owned company.

RALEIGH, NC (December 6, 2021) -- The North Carolina Outdoor Recreation Coalition celebrates the recently enacted state budget. Passed by the NC General Assembly and signed into law on November 18, 2021, the new biennium budget includes over $500 mil