At their first meeting of 2014 on Jan. 7, Buncombe County Commissioners will seek public feedback on a plan to give $1.12 million in cash grants to Jacob Holm Industries to help it expand local operations. They’ll also consider hiring 17 new workers at the Health and Human Services Department, as well as new zoning regulations.
It was a historic year for Buncombe County government, as the first Board of Commissioners to be elected by districts took the reins.
A round-up of the five most-read news stories of 2013 on Mountainx.com.
Asheville High juniors Brennan Reichmann and Van Arthur launched the Instagram hashtag #828isgreat. When they reach 1,000 followers, they’ll turn the photo collection into an apparel business.
The tourism industry already brings in $2.3 billion annually to Buncombe County. That’s up from roughly $183 million 30 years ago. But to continue to grow local visitation, government officials and business owners need to “anticipate trends that are shaping the future,” says Mike Konzen, a leading global consultant.
Creamy cheese melted over a hot granite slab, a selection of savory or sweet accompaniments, a glass of wine and good conversation: This is the essence of raclette, the centuries-old Swiss dining tradition introduced to Asheville in late November by Creperie Bouchon.
Geraldine’s Bakery will celebrate its recent opening with an open-house event 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14. Geraldine’s, located in the former spot of Sisters McMullen Bakery on Merrimon Avenue, opened its doors on Nov. 18 after owner Fred Dehlow, a second-generation baker from New York, bought the business from Andrea McMullen.
The holidays mean decadence. Fatty foods proliferate, bank accounts go negative and children risk becoming spoiled. In the spirit of overindulgence, Asheville can now add fresh Maine lobster to the holiday table. Especially since this well-armored delicacy is now available fresher and at a cheaper price than in area grocery stores.
About 150 community leaders gathered Dec. 11 to discuss Asheville’s strengths as a tourism destination, learn about new projects in the works, and share ideas for the future.
Wolf Ridge Ski Resort is now under new management and big changes are in the works.
Just in time for the holiday shopping season, an innovative new Asheville venture is aiming to transform regular credit or debit cards into reward cards that save local consumers money and benefit local businesses.
Struggling to address an increased demand for services amid a funding crunch, Mountain BizWorks is conducting “an intensive review of our programs and finances,” board Chair Eileen McMinn reports. Most of the organization’s existing training programs will be phased out by the middle of next year. The downsized local nonprofit will focus its remaining resources on lending.
Back in February, President Barack Obama hailed 3-D printing as having “the potential to revolutionize the way we make almost everything.” And now, Asheville area residents have affordable access to that innovative technology, which transforms digital designs into actual real-world objects.
Since Xpress featured Ujamaa Freedom Market in the September Women in Business issue, project organizers have launched a campaign on crowd-funding site GoFundMe. So far, they’ve raised 20 percent of their goal.
Chances are you can name a beer or two from your favorite Asheville breweries, but It’s perhaps more difficult to name the last beer you drank made with Riverbend Malt House’s malt.
State, local and company officials met today, Nov. 14, to break ground on GE Aviation’s new 170,000-square-foot Asheville facility, being built next to an existing GE Aviation machining plant in South Asheville.
A bike? A car? An ELF? It’s not the magical little creature we know from folklore. ELF stands for “Electric, Light, Fun.” It’s an OTV or Organic Transit Vehicle, and it was created by Durham, N.C.-based company Organic Transit.
Facing a “liquidity crunch,” Mountain BizWorks CEO Shaw Canale has stepped down from her post, a job she’s had since 2009.
In 2011, women held 57 percent of all professional positions in the country but only 25 percent of technology jobs, according to U.S. Department of Labor statistics. Does the Asheville area buck the trend? (Photo by Caitlin Byrd)
“When we pass by people on the river they’re like, ‘Wow, I’ve never even seen anything like that,” says Will Evert, co-founder of French Broad Boatworks. He’s talking about a new line of high-end, wooden drift boats that he and his business partner, Jason Brownlee, have started handcrafting at their Asheville shop.
Before a small crowd of downtown residents, business owners and city officials, developer Tony Fraga laid out preliminary plans for a 14-story Cambria Suites hotel on Battery and Page Avenues this evening. Photo by Carrie Eidson.
