Press release from the City of Asheville:
The City of Asheville’s Minority Business Program is now the Asheville Business Inclusion Office. The office will still help local minority businesses. The name change is to better reflect how we are moving forward with the equity work that the City is doing; we need to internally change the way we view race, ethnicity, and gender. We also hope that individuals who felt uncomfortable with the word minority might feel welcome to visit the Business Inclusion Office to seek opportunities.
Here are ways the Asheville Business Inclusion helps our local business community.
Externally
- Helps to ensure persons of color have an opportunity contract directly with the city or as a subcontractor.
- Engage the community in workshops, training.
- One-on-one meetings to help small minority businesses to understand if their services can be contracted by the City.
- Referrals to other business services and opportunities.
- Build relationships with business owners.
Internally
- The Business Inclusion manager review bids with an intent to actually reach minority businesses; and works with other City employees to affect policies and procedures to ensure equity.
How to get in touch with the office
- The office is located on the 5th floor of Asheville City Hall, 70 Court Plaza.
- Make an appointment here: calendly.com/rmulcahy-1
Come to Outside Office Hours
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Burton Street Center, second Monday of the month from 2 to 5:30 p.m. and third Saturday of every month from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
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Stephens Lee Center, second and fourth Wednesday of the month from 5 to 8 p.m.
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