Shutterfly Inc. to bring plant, 600 jobs to Fort Mill

FORT MILL Shutterfly Inc., an Internet-based social expression and personal publishing service, said Thursday it would build a new production facility in Fort Mill. The move will triple its East Coast manufacturing operations to 300,000 total square feet. The new facility will open next spring, bringing 600 jobs to the state. With the new facility located less than 10 miles from the company’s current location in Charlotte, Shutterfly expects to retain existing employees while creating new jobs during the next three years. The facility will house a portion of production and customer service personnel for Shutterfly’s four brands. It will be the company’s first customer service center on the East Coast. For jobs: shutterfly.com/jobs

Myrtle Beach wants to spruce up entrance to tourist Mecca

MYRTLE BEACH Some people say Myrtle Beach doesn’t make a good first impression, even though the area is the heart of South Carolina’s $15 billion tourism industry. The (Myrtle Beach) Sun News reports a city committee met for the first time Wednesday to work on sprucing up the entrance to the city. That area stretches along U.S. 501 between the Intracoastal Waterway and the city limits. The road has abandoned buildings and other unsightly areas. The committee will develop guidelines for standards for new construction as well as trees, signs and lighting. City planning director Jack Walker says the panel can make a lasting contribution for generations to come. The rules would not affect current businesses.

Bank of America to speed up cost-cutting measures, job cuts

NEW YORK A published report says Bank of America is accelerating a cost-cutting plan and aims to eliminate 16,000 jobs by the end of the year. The cuts are part of a previously announced plan by the bank to cut 30,000 jobs. The Wall Street Journal cites a document given to top management at the bank. The newspaper says the cuts will mean fewer Bank of America branches and a smaller mortgage operation. A bank spokesman declined comment.

Starbucks unveils its own single-serve coffeemaker

NEW YORK Starbucks Corp. is about to turn up the heat on the single-serve coffee market, and someone might get burned. The Seattle-based company says it will start selling its new single-serve brewer online this week for $199. It plans to start selling the machine in its ubiquitous cafes next month. The arrival of the Verismo, which was announced earlier this year, comes amid intensifying competition in the rapidly growing market for single-serve brewers and the coffee pods they use. The market was pioneered by Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Inc., which enjoyed soaring sales after its acquisition of the Keurig brand machine in 2006. But this month, the company’s patent on its K-cup technology expired, which prompted supermarkets to roll out store-brand versions of coffee pods that can be used in Keurig machines. Starbucks’ Verismo uses a high-pressure system that can make lattes and other espresso-based drinks, as well as brewed coffee.

The Associated Press contributed.