Aircraft maker JetZero, a startup trying to build a more sustainable commercial airplane, is pledging to create 14,500 jobs and manufacture its planes in North Carolina.

Why it matters: It is the largest economic development win in the state's history, if the jobs come to fruition as planned near Greensboro's Piedmont Triad International Airport (PTI).

Driving the news: On Thursday morning in Raleigh, the state's Economic Investment Committee approved an incentives package for JetZero worth around $1 billion.

• The Greensboro area was competing against 25 other sites across the country, according to the state's Commerce Department.
• North Carolina has been working to recruit the company for more than a year, including a final phone call between N.C. Gov. Josh Stein and JetZero CEO Tom O'Leary in the past few weeks.

By the numbers: The jobs, which are expected to be added between 2027 and 2037, would pay a minimum average wage of $89,000.

• JetZero plans to invest $4.7 billion into the site, in return for state and local incentives.
• Guildford County and Greensboro will put $784 million in incentives toward the project, according to the Commerce Department.
• The state's contribution, under a transformative-level Job Development Investment Grant, would be $1 billion over 37 years, and it is anticipated the state's General Assembly would appropriate another $450 million toward site preparation and road improvements.

Zoom in: California-based JetZero has designed a blended-wing-body airframe that it expects to be up to 50% more fuel efficient than today's tube-and-wing aircraft, a huge advantage for airlines seeking to decarbonize their operations, Axios previously reported.

• The company has attracted investments from several big players in the industry, including Delta and United Airlines, and has said it hopes to begin flying in 2027.
• The U.S. Air Force is also investing $235 million into JetZero, and Lee said the state had extensive conversations with the Air Force while vetting the company.

Go deeper on the deal

A majority of North Carolina swing voters in our latest Engagious/Sago focus groups expressed skepticism about re-electing N.C. Sen. Thom Tillis, even as they broadly support President Trump's policies, especially on immigration.

Why it matters: While a focus group is not a statistically significant sample like a poll, the responses show how some voters are thinking and talking about current events.

The big picture: The Biden-to-Trump voters' said they could not point to any actions he has taken as senator, and only one of the 12 focus group attendees said they would be likely to vote for him.

• "After more than a decade, Sen. Tillis remains largely unknown to these North Carolina swing voters," said Rich Thau, President of Engagious, who moderated the focus groups.

State of play: Tillis, who faced some backlash from Republicans for his stances on some Trump appointees, looks likely to face a tough re-election campaign next year — especially if former N.C. Gov. Roy Cooper, a Democrat, enters the race.

How it works: Axios observed two Engagious/Sago online focus groups Tuesday night comprising 12 North Carolinians, all of whom said they voted for Biden in 2020, then Trump in 2024. Nine are independents and three are Republicans.

What they're saying: "I['ve] just seen so much stuff on TV ... around election time that just had a bad imprint on my mind. You say his name, it's like saying Joe Biden to me," Ashley B., 36, of Arden, said of Tillis.

Driving the news: A majority of the focus group said they support President Trump's deportations and activation of the National Guard and Marines in Los Angeles, despite reservations about extremism and civil rights violations.

Between the lines: But several panelists cited concerns about the economy, tariffs and political corruption.

• A majority objected to Trump's moves to cut university research (though many were unsure of the nature of the cuts) as well as the prospect of Medicaid cuts as part of the spending and tax-cut bill before Congress.

Go deeper on the North Carolina focus group of swing voters

🚔 Court filings allege that a fired Raleigh police officer conducted illegal searches. (INDY Week)

🗺️ The N.C. General Assembly could intervene in a redrawing of the boundary between Lincoln and Catawba counties that was done to match the original 1800s-era survey. (WUNC)

⚽️ Morrisville-based PlayMetrics, which makes sports management software, is combining with Texas-based Stack Sports. Its headquarters will remain in the Triangle. (Triangle Business Journal 🔒)

🗳️ Chapel Hill town council member Karen Stegman will step down from her seat after moving to Carrboro. (News & Observer 🔒)

🍎 Perkins Orchard in Durham has closed temporarily while its owners reassess its operations. (WRAL)

Downtown Durham's newest cocktail bar, Primrose, will celebrate its grand opening this Saturday.

What to expect: The grand opening party will include drink tastings and a live DJ set.

• The bar, which had its soft opening in April, features a heavy dose of floral decor, from a wall of flowers at the entrance to flower-print wallpaper.
• The bar offers seven signature cocktails, all priced at $14, plus a list of beer and wine.

Between the lines: It's been a busy spring of openings in downtown Durham, from Oscar Diaz's new restaurant TaTaco to The Lenny, a bar with a birds-eye view of the Durham Bulls stadium.

• At the same time, however, acclaimed restaurant Littler is set to close later this month.

Address: Primrose is at 111 W. Main St. in Durham.

Hours: 5pm-midnight, Monday through Thursday.

• 5pm to 2am, Fridays
• 3pm to 2am, Saturday and 3pm to midnight on Sundays.