Eastern.

• Position: REGIONAL REPORT

WILMINGTON -- McKim & Creed, an engineering and surveying company, bought The Rose Group, a 30-employee Fayetteville competitor. The price was not disclosed. McKim & Creed has about 400 employees in 15 offices in the Southeast.

HAMPSTEAD -- Before the end of the year, Wilmington-based developer Jim McFarland plans to begin what will be Pender County's largest residential development. The 711-acre project will include 500 houses and commercial buildings. The houses will cost from $350,000 to $450,000. About 60 acres will be devoted to condominiums or offices. The project might also include a grocery store and Wal-Mart.

RAEFORD -- Chapel Hill-based Clean Burn Fuels plans to build an $80 million ethanol factory here. The three-building complex will sit on about 500 acres of the county's 1,366-acre industrial-development site and create about 100 jobs. It could be producing fuel in two years if it clears regulatory and other hurdles.

FAYETTEVILLE -- Cumberland County will turn over Cape Fear Valley Health System to a private nonprofit in early 2006. The system has $472 million in assets and about 4,500 employees. Proponents say the transfer, which involves no money, will relieve the...