Caterpillar is investing a billion dollars in Sanford, Raleigh-based Relay raises a $36 million funding round, and Wake County reports $1.5 billion in investment since last October. Plus, a podcast recommendation, and the events you need on your calendar this week.

Links & more

• Subscribe to BizBrief: https://6am.city/ralbizbrief
• Take the BizBrief reader survey (win a $100 gift card) — https://app.youform.com/forms/6xyukibf
• Caterpillar's $1B Sanford expansion, "Project Paragon" (Triangle Business Journal) — https://www.bizjournals.com/triangle/news/2026/09/30/caterpillar-sanford-nc-expansion-jobs-incentives.html
• Relay raises $36M funding round (Axios Raleigh) — https://www.axios.com/local/raleigh/2026/09/30/relay-raises-usd36m-from-investors-to-fuel-its-growth-raleigh-smart-walkie-talkie
• Wake County's State of the County address (CBS17) — https://www.cbs17.com/news/local-news/wake-county-news/wake-countys-growth-major-theme-of-this-years-state-of-the-county-address/
• Carl Warren steps down as NCRR president & CEO (Business NC) — https://businessnc.com/north-carolina-railroad-co-begins-search-for-new-ceo/
• NC's August jobs report (North State Journal) — https://nsjonline.com/article/2026/09/nc-unemployment-rate-falls-to-3-5-in-august/
• NC State's new battery workforce lab (ABC11) — https://abc11.com/post/nc-state-opens-battery-makerspace-power-workforce-future/19888634/
• NC Main Street communities' 2025-26 investment report (Business NC) —https://caro.news/nc-main-street-program-adds-500m-2500-jobs/
• Durham's "Keep It Durham-Owned" campaign (INDY Week) — https://www.durhambusiness360.com/156/Keep-It-Durham-Owned
• Allstacks launches Code Engine — https://www.allstacks.com/product/product-studio
• Hersh Tapadia on "First Check, with Venture Capitalist Tim McLoughlin" (2021): https://open.spotify.com/episode/3EeMxNF6RxJW7DZkhsdxrZ
• Podcast recommendation: Retirement With Purpose, hosted by Trevor Lawson — https://open.spotify.com/show/0B1jf0qJed23lUjRrlVRqU
• Full events calendar — https://6amcity.com/nc/raleigh/events
• Office space listings (lease/sale) — BizBriefRaleigh.com
• Connect with Jason on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasongillikin/

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