Welcome to the 118th issue of Greater Fayetteville Business Journal, or Volume 4, No. 22 as we like to call it on the front page. None of these numbers really have much relevance unless you have been there from the beginning and have an understanding of what it took and takes to go from issue 1 to 118 in less than four years.

All of us in business have our measurements, our metrics, if you will.

And all of these data points help tell us a story. It’s either a story of growth and development or stagnation and decline. And it’s a dynamic story of ups and downs. Successes and failures. Wins and losses.

How we interpret the story determines so much. We definitely have some interesting stories for consideration in our area. Consider some of the recent growth and development hallmarks such as Methodist University Cape Fear Valley Health School of Medicine coming in 2026, or the Cape Fear Regional Theatre’s new facility coming soon. How about another win for Fayetteville State with the new Education Center coming in 2026, as well as our cover story about FTCC and FSU working together to bring a construction management degree to the area. These and many others like them are signs of growth and development.
There are also important signs we should pay attention to, as well. Consider the effects of decreased federal spending and what that might mean long term for our area. What happens if the county does decide to move the performing arts investment to Eastern Boulevard instead of downtown? How will Artificial Intelligence change and shape everyone’s future? Successful business owners have to constantly make forward-thinking decisions. The challenge is: how far forward should we think and plan?

I think the answer is, just do the next right thing that’s just in front of you. Certainly, make the hard decisions too, but only when you know it’s the next right thing to do.
Perhaps the next right thing for you to do is to take the advancement of AI as seriously as it is. We are excited about our next Power Breakfast coming up on June 12. Applied Intelligence, The AI Revolution in Business. We have a panel of forward-thinking leaders who will help us unpack AI for our businesses.

Go to www.fayettevillepowerbreakfast.com to learn more and purchase your table or ticket!

In closing, I leave you with a quote from one of my heroes from history, Sir Winston Churchill who said, “For myself I am an optimist — it does not seem to be much use being anything else.”

And that is what I try to be: an optimist. We have also been careful about keeping the culture of Greater Fayetteville Business Journal in that same light.
If you like what we are doing, please consider joining us by becoming a subscriber at bizfayetteville.com/subscribe. If you want to get your business seen by a very influential readership with significant buying power, email us at marketing@bizfayetteville.com. We hope you will join us in promoting the present and future of business in the Fayetteville MSA and surrounding communities!
God bless you and yours,

Marty Cayton