News for Business

SMITHFIELD, NC – Downtown Smithfield is taking the conversation to the sidewalk with the launch of its very first podcast, Smithfield Sidewalk Stories! Produced by the Downtown Smithfield Development Corporation (DSDC), Smithfield Sidewalk Stories will shine a spotlight on the people, businesses, stories, and happenings that make Downtown Smithfield special. New episodes will drop every two ...read more

“Stronger Together” Takes Center Stage at JCPS 2026 Leadership Conference   SMITHFIELD, NC – On July 14-16, 2026, Johnston County Public Schools (JCPS) principals, assistant principals, and central office staff attended the 2026 Leadership Conference at Cleveland High. The annual conference provides administrators with valuable information to share with their school teams as they prepare for ...read more

Johnston County’s premier leadership development program seeks professionals committed to growing their leadership capacity and strengthening their impact in the community.   SMITHFIELD, N.C. — Applications are now being accepted for the 2027 Leadership Johnston program, an immersive leadership development experience designed to cultivate informed, engaged, and connected leaders throughout ...read more

KS BANK EXPANDING THEIR COMMUNITY-FOCUSED BRAND OF BANKING TO LILLINGTON, NC(SMITHFIELD, NC) – KS Bank is expanding its community-focused brand of banking to Lillington, NC. The bank recently purchased property at 709 W. Front Street in Lillington, where it intends to operate the new branch. KS Bank has received regulatory approval from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and is pending ...read more

 The Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) today announced that community banker Earl W. Worley, Jr., President/CEO of KS Bank was re-elected to the ICBA Federal Delegate Board. "Community banks play a vital role in helping families thrive and small businesses grow," said Worley. “I’m proud to work with ICBA to advance policies and initiatives that protect and empower these institutions ...read more

Smithfield, NC – The Triangle East Chamber of Commerce has taken a major step forward in its five-year Triangle East Prospers initiative, appointing BriAnna Walker as the region’s first-ever Talent and Leadership Development Manager. The new role marks a significant investment in tackling one of Johnston County’s most pressing challenges: building a skilled workforce. Currently, 63 percent of ...read more

You’re sitting on a goldmine and don’t even know it. Right outside your storefront, in the coffee shops and laundromats and food trucks humming a block away, are patterns, habits, and whispers that—if read right—can tell you exactly what your next move should be. Strategy isn’t just spreadsheets and quarterly forecasts, it’s how well you can read the room, especially when the room is your zip ...read more