TODAY'S HEADLINES |   JULY 19, 2012

Obama: Harbor deepening among   U.S. priority projects

President Barack Obama   chose the Charleston Harbor deepening project as one of seven nationwide   projects to be part of an initiative to make permitting and review processes   more efficient. The president pledged to finish federal reviews by September   2015, shortening the deepening project’s timetable a second time.

Survey finds S.C. clean energy   firms employ 17,000

The South Carolina   Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency Industries Census also revealed that   269 S.C. firms are in the clean energy business, focusing on wind, solar,   biomass, alternative fuels, recycling and green building. The data was   reported Wednesday at the first Clean Energy Summit in Columbia.

BB&T reports record earnings   in Q2

The financial services   and bank holding company reported record second-quarter net income of $510   million, up 66% from $307 million in the second quarter of 2011. BB&T has   the third-largest market share of bank deposits in South Carolina as of June   30, 2011.

Sonoco net income slips 4% in Q2

The Hartsville-based   diversified global packaging company’s net income for the second quarter   slipped to $51.4 million, from $53.7 million in the year-earlier quarter. For   the first half, net income was down 15% to $94.4 million from $110.8 million   in the first half of 2011.

Cayce experiencing commercial   construction boom

Economic development   leaders point to four major reasons for growth in the Cayce area: Traffic   infrastructure, availability of utilities and land, responsive local   government and an available workforce.

Nominate a Health Care Hero

Columbia Regional   Business Report will pay homage to the health care field at an awards dinner   in October, honoring volunteers, nurses, doctors, researchers, first   responders and others who touch lives in the Midlands. The deadline to nominate a Health Care Hero   is Aug. 3.