GREENVILLE, SC-A slowing economy and less than anticipated traffic has caused the New York agency to lower its rating on bonds issued to help construct the Southern Connector, a toll road linking the east and west areas of Greenville's south side.

NASHVILLE, TN-Konover Property Trust sold the 285,000-sf property on Music Valley Drive, northeast of Nashville, to Two Rivers Corporate Centre for $19.65 per sf.

ATLANTA-The 18-acre project will be anchored by a Publix supermarket at GA 20 and Samples Road north of Downtown Atlanta. North American Properties has signed five tenants to the 75,000-sf center so far.

HIRAM, GA-A $12.3 million federal loan from Arbor Commercial Mortgage of Uniondale, NY to owner Magnolia Commons is helping with the construction of 192-unit Magnolia Commons Apartments. Atlanta-based TRS Construction is the developer.

CHARLESTON, SC-The properties include Faber Place, 200 Meeting Street and a 300,000 sf warehouse in Berkeley County. The Pennsylvania REIT will be using the proceeds for new development and general corporate expenses.

AUBURN, AL-The wholly-owned subsidiary of Charlton, MA-based FiberCore Inc. is receiving $1.1 million in free land from the city of Auburn, $20 million in loans from the Retirement Systems of Alabama and local/state tax credits worth an additional $20 million.

ATLANTA-Raleigh, NC; Lexington, KY; Wake County, NC and Atlanta are among cities cited in a new book by Joel Kotkin who uses Census 2000 figures to show a strong correlation between a well-educated workforce and the amount of wealth in an area.

NASHVILLE-Jubilee CoolSprings LLC paid American Retail Group Inc. $3.6 million for the 61,000-sf building on Galleria Boulevard and Interstate 65.