Industries
Charlotte offers a little bit of everything. On any given day you will see an array of citizens. There are the well-dressed business people who work in offices Uptown and around Charlotte; there are students in their blue jeans and t-shirts; there are entrepreneurs who take pride in their own style and business structure; and there are NASCAR fans who camp outside Lowe's Motor Speedway decked in their favorite racer's gear. Charlotte's diversity comes from her industries and the citizens who support it.
Banking
Charlotte is the second largest financial center in the United States; New York is home to the first. Charlotte's banking status is made possible by corporations such as Wachovia and Bank of America that have their headquarters here. "Besides being the home to major corporate operations of commercial banks, the Charlotte region also houses many large operational and customer service centers for companies like CitiFinancial," according to the Charlotte Regional Partnership..
Film
Hollywood is the traditional movie hot spot. However, in the past few years, North Carolina has staked its claim on the film industry. On their website, the Charlotte Regional Partnership explains that Charlotte offers a "unique combination of urban and rural, foothills and flatlands, small towns and large city locations." Charlotte also has a strong base for independent film. The Charlotte Regional Partnership credits the diversity of locations and the extensive cast and crew in the area for allowing filmmakers to complete all aspects of their independent films. The Film Foundry, a local production company, does projects for major organizations such as The Disney Corporation.
Automotive & Motor Sports
NASCAR is not exactly like Formula One racing. Formula One uses cars by Porsche and BMW; NASCAR uses cars by Chevrolet, Ford and Dodge. NASCAR creates a large job base in America, especially in Charlotte. Ninety percent of NASCAR teams operate near downtown Charlotte. Not only do we have The NASCAR Research and Development Center, but we will soon be home to the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
Travel & Tourism
Charlotte is one of the largest cities in North Carolina. Several major highways and interstates run through and around Charlotte. Charlotte's most thriving area is the junction of Interstate 77 and Interstate 85. This is near the South Carolina border, which makes it easy for South Carolinians to work in Charlotte as well.
Charlotte is a sophisticated, fast-lane cultural metropolis offering many hotels and attractions. Uptown itself is a must see. Visitors are amazed by the architecture of the city, which includes skyscrapers such as the Bank of America Building. For more on travel and tourism please visit www.visitcharlotte.com.
Media
Charlotte has about six major news stations that are national affiliates. Time Warner Cable, a Charlotte corporation that provides television services, started its own News Station, News 14 Carolina. News 14 Carolina covers the same major news as the national affiliates, but puts a special emphasis on local non profits and the surrounding universities.
Charlotte Television News Sources
- WBTV (Ch. 3)
- WCNC (Ch. 6)
- WSOC (Ch. 9)
- WMYT (Ch. 12)
- WCCB (Ch. 18)
- WTVI (Ch. 42)
- WJZY (Ch. 46)
Charlotte also has several independent radio stations, and two major radio stations, CBS Radio and Clear Channel Communications. CBS is home to a popular radio morning talk show, Ace & TJ in the Morning. Ace and TJ are known for their charity work and have been nominated for the Radio and Records Personality of the Year award five times.
In addition, Charlotte's print publications include Creative Loafing, The Rhinoceros Times, and The Charlotte Observer. Charlotte also has several print publications that target various segments of the populations who are from or interested in news and views of other cultures. Examples include the Asian Herald and La Noticia.
To learn about Charlotte's international business sector please go to internationalbusinesspark.com or www.charlotteusa.com/Regional/regional_international.asp.
