Good morning, this is Charlotte Local Pulse for Monday, December 23, 2024.
We're starting with breaking news from the weekend. A two-alarm fire broke out at an apartment building in south Charlotte on Sunday morning, resulting in one fatality. The incident is still under investigation, and our thoughts are with the family and loved ones affected by this tragedy.
Moving on to our job market snapshot, Charlotte's tech industry continues to boom. Major companies like Microsoft, Lowe's, and Bank of America are driving this growth, with a 21.3% increase in tech employment from 2021 to 2022. Software developers are in high demand, with average salaries around $108,000. We're seeing over 18,000 new tech roles projected by 2029, making Charlotte an attractive destination for skilled tech professionals.
In other business news, JP Morgan Chase is expanding its presence in Charlotte, adding more than 200 workers and 24,000 square feet of office space. This growth is part of a larger trend, with area employers adding 36,500 positions in 2023, expanding total employment by 2.8 percent.
On the real estate front, we don't have any major updates today, but we'll keep you informed on any significant developments in the coming days.
From city hall, there are no major announcements affecting daily life, but we'll continue to monitor any decisions that impact our community.
Weather-wise, it's a chilly morning, but we're expecting a mostly sunny day with highs in the mid-50s. Perfect weather to get out and enjoy some of the holiday festivities around town.
Speaking of which, there are several community events happening in the next few days. The Charlotte Symphony is performing a holiday concert at the Belk Theater, and the NASCAR Hall of Fame is hosting a holiday lights display. We'll have more details on these and other events in our next update.
In local school news, congratulations to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School District for being recognized for its innovative STEM programs. And in sports, the Charlotte Hornets are gearing up for their next game against the Atlanta Hawks.
On a feel-good note, a local non-profit is organizing a toy drive for underprivileged children in the area. We'll have more information on how you can get involved in our next update.
Finally, in our crime report, detectives with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department are conducting a homicide investigation in the 4500 block of Tanager Park Drive in the North Division. We urge anyone with information to come forward and assist in the investigation.
This has been Charlotte Local Pulse. We'll see you tomorrow with more local updates.
