Program brings minorities into the city’s business life

In the pantheon of city services, it’s easy to overlook the Minority Business Program, a one-person operation that’s part of the Office of Economic Development. Contractor general: For minorityowned firms, Brenda Mills is the go-to gal for access to city-government contracts. Photo By Jonathan Welch Overlooking coordinator Brenda Mills is not an option, however. Full […]

Asheville City Council

Council members debate scheduled raises City accepts parkland donation With its budget-writing chores nearly done, Asheville City Council members spent the bulk of their brief June 17 work session addressing odds and ends. Most of the conversation centered on how best to tackle the city’s youth gangs. Sign of the times: In this file photo, […]

Economic developmen­t: Putting the pieces together

Ever wondered who’s in charge of economic development in Asheville and Buncombe County? It’s a good question, but the answer is not so simple. In fact, there are literally dozens of players—some big, some small—that help shape the area’s economy. They include governmental agencies such as the city’s Office of Economic Development, quasi-governmental agencies such […]

A place to hang your shingle

Any city looking to become a top-tier place to do business needs certain amenities. And in Asheville, where commercial office space can be pricey and where thousands make a living as freelancers, telecommuters or home- or small-business owners, one key amenity is the availability of so-called “virtual offices.” Just plug in: Owner Doug English and […]

Can you relate?

In an era when governments are often criticized for being too secretive or unresponsive, it can be quite a surprise to discover the myriad ways Asheville city government seeks to keep the flow of information open. In fact, the city’s Community Relations division puts customer service at the top of its list, according to staffers. […]

Arms and the man

A native of Washington, D.C., Robert Levy now divides his time between homes in Asheville and Florida. But the 66-year-old is far from retired. A self-made multimillionaire who created and later sold CDA Investment Technologies, Levy has spent the second half of his life as a lawyer, author and senior fellow at the libertarian-leaning Cato […]