Charlotte will soon be home to another corporate headquarters as Ohio-based Cedar Fair and Texas-based Six Flags merge and relocate the combined company here.

Why it matters: A growing list of prominent corporate headquarters bolsters Charlotte's standing as a major business city, one that employers want to be in because of its workforce, cost of living, climate and other factors.

• The deal creates one of the world's largest amusement park operators at a time when the industry still struggles to recover from a pandemic-induced slump.

Driving the news: The merger of Cedar Fair, which owns and operates Carowinds here, and Six Flags is expected to close July 1, the two companies said in a recent securities filing.

• When the merger is finalized, the combined company will be renamed "Six Flags Entertainment Corporation."
• Trading of the combined company's common stock on the NYSE is expected to begin on July 2 under the ticker "FUN."

Flashback: The companies, which announced the deal last November, described it as a "merger of equals," giving the new entity an enterprise value of $8 billion.

• Cedar Fair has said it will maintain a significant presence in Sandusky, Ohio.
• Outside of Carowinds, Cedar Fair's signature properties include Cedar Point in Ohio, Kings Dominion in Virginia and Six Flags Magic Mountain in California.

Keep reading about our newest corporate HQ

Charlotte-based Honeywell International has reached a deal to buy aerospace and defense technology company CAES Systems from the private equity firm Advent International for $2 billion. (WSJ)

Jason Bengel has been named the new CFO of Charlotte-based LendingTree, effective Aug. 9. He'll replace Trent Ziegler, who is leaving after 12 years with the company. (CBJ 🔒)

Charlotte Douglas International Airport is expecting a boost of more than $20 million thanks to the higher parking costs it implemented last fall. (Charlotte Ledger 🔒)

The Charlotte Regional Business Alliance anticipates hiring a new CEO by September. This leader will replace Janet LaBar, who had led the business group since 2019 before announcing her sudden departure this spring. (Business NC)

If you're on the hunt for a new job, here are a few to get you started:

1. Executive Director at Catawba Indian Nation Foundation.
2. Upper School Receptionist at Charlotte Latin School.
3. Major Gifts Officer and Manager of Identity-Focused Philanthropy at Davidson College.
4. Membership Manager at Discovery Place.

Want more opportunities? Check out all openings on our Job Board.

Hiring? Post a job.

There's a new class at Resident Culture that'll teach you how to grill like the pros.

• Charlotte pitmaster Edmar Simoes, Resident Culture Brewing's executive chef, will be teaching open-fire cooking techniques in classes that run from 6am-4pm (!!) on the second Sunday of each month starting July 14.

Between the lines: Each class will have eight spots for $400 a person, according to a statement from the brewery. The classes include:

• Resident Culture breakfast and coffee
• Meats — brisket, pork butt, chicken leg quarters, chicken wings and top sirloin
• Family-style barbecue sides and two beers for each participant
• Take-away portions of the meats prepared in class
• Swag bags of Resident Culture goodies

More info and tickets here