BizWorthy

On Tuesday, Mecklenburg County's health director issued a new directive: utilize full-virtual options where possible. What does that mean for businesses that are still permitted to be open, though? The Charlotte Ledger's Tony Mecia talks about that and more in the latest business news in this week's BizWorthy.

A new investment fund has purchased the minority-owned Charlotte company R.J Leeper Construction. As part of the deal, City Council member James Mitchell would be the new president and co-owner of the company.

Most are ready to forget 2020 and not look back. But for the next few minutes, we are going to look back, specifically at the year in Charlotte business news.

The Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Department may change its plan for a section of a greenway in south Charlotte after residents said they don't want their neighborhood off Carmel Road to be linked to the trail. WFAE's Marshall Terry talks with the Charlotte Ledger Business Newsletter's Tony Mecia about that and other business stories this week.

Like most businesses, the film industry has suffered during the pandemic. The North Carolina Film Office said productions statewide are expected to spend about a third less this year than they did last year. Film spending in the Charlotte region, though, actually increased slightly this year to $20 million, according to the Charlotte Regional Film Commission.

You’ve probably noticed TV has looked a little different since Election Day. That’s because the airwaves are now free of political ads. While those ads can be overwhelming for viewers, they’re big windfalls for stations. And that bump was especially important this year since the pandemic has caused a drop in TV ad revenue.

North Carolina will stay in Phase 3 of reopening through at least Dec. 4. In making that announcement this week, Gov. Roy Cooper cited the rising number of coronavirus cases in the state and concern over people gathering during the holidays. The governor did make one change to the restrictions in place: The number of people allowed to gather indoors has been lowered from 25 to 10.

The holidays are just around the corner. Normally that would mean large holiday expos like the annual Southern Christmas Show in Charlotte and Christmas Made in the South in Concord. But like other large events, they’ve been canceled because of the pandemic.

The coronavirus pandemic hasn't slowed down the sales of Halloween costumes in the Charlotte area, despite health officials' recommendations to avoid trick-or-treating or large gatherings. The Charlotte Ledger Business Journal's Tony Mecia checks in with WFAE's Marshall Terry on that and other business news this week.

Atrium Health and Wake Forest Baptist Health last week announced they’ve officially completed their merger. A big part of the combined new hospital system is building a medical school in Charlotte.