RALEIGH -- A new JobsNOW lending initiative has been established to help more small businesses get loans they need to grow and stay in business, Gov. Beverly Perdue announced in Winston-Salem on Friday.
The initiative will help small businesses gain access to credit in two ways -- by increasing participation in Small Business Administration loans and other federally backed loan programs by North Carolina banks and by helping small businesses strengthen their loan applications.
In the next six months, the state will hold a series of "banker boot camps" to coach loan officers and community banks on how to take advantage of SBA loans.
The state will also reach out to small businesses to help them apply for credit.
This initiative is a partnership between the Governor's Office, the N.C. Small Business Commissioner as part of the N.C. Department of Commerce, the N.C. Bankers Association, the U.S. Small Business Administration and the N.C. Commissioner of Banks.
SHIIP can help Fox customers
RALEIGH -- N.C. Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin on Friday announced the department's SHIIP program is available to help some 24,000 N.C. Medicare recipients who may be affected by Medicare's suspension of a New York insurer.
There are more than 24,000 Medicare recipients in North Carolina who are enrolled in Fox Insurance Company of New York's Part D plan.
Those with problems filling their prescriptions can call the Seniors' Health Insurance Information Program helpline at 1-800-443-9354 or visit www.ncshiip.com.
SHIIP is a division of the Department of Insurance offering free, unbiased information about Medicare, Medicare prescription drug coverage, Medicare Advantage, long-term care insurance and other health insurance information.
iPad tablet to hit stores April 3
NEW YORK — The much-anticipated iPad tablet computer from Apple Inc. will start hitting U.S. store shelves on April 3, slightly later than originally planned.
When Apple unveiled the touch-screen device Jan. 27, the company said the first iPads would reach the market in “late March” worldwide, not just in the U.S. Now international releases are planned for later in April.
— From staff, wire reports
