Press release from Asheville Grown Business Alliance:
Asheville Grown Business Alliance, a grassroots organization first formed in 2009 that has surged in memberships and popularity over the past decade, today announced its plans for this year’s Love Asheville Go Local Week featuring many downtown businesses and events scheduled from Feb. 8 through Feb. 15.
The week is championed by partners of the Alliance including the Asheville Downtown Association, Asheville Independent Restaurant Association, Explore Asheville and the City of Asheville.
A true success story, the growth of the Love Asheville Go Local Movement has seen memberships soar from 12 participating businesses in Year One to 540 currently and boasting 3,600 individual Go Local card carriers this year. Asheville
and Buncombe County businesses can join for free, while it costs $18 annually for individuals to obtain Go Local cards, which provide special offers at various businesses downtown and throughout Buncombe County.
The card program, initiated in 2012 with 50 percent of proceeds donated to education, has generated more than $130,000 for Asheville City Public Schools over the past nine years. Marketing efforts have expanded this year, resulting in a 25 percent increase in card sales and increased community awareness.
During Love Asheville Go Local Week, many local businesses will stay open later, feature special promotions and prices, unique offerings and activities, and generally celebrate the unique character and vibrancy of greater Asheville.
“Local, independently-owned businesses are the backbone of Asheville’s economy,” said Franzi Charen, founder and director of the Asheville Grown
Business Alliance. “When you support a local business three times more money stays in our community. They cultivate our unique culture and support our artists, farmers, local media and professional occupations.
“We hope that thousands of locals will join in this year’s celebration and take advantage of the unique flavors and experiences our community has to offer.”
Go Local Week kicks off with an “80’s Prom” dance at the LaZoom Room on Saturday, Feb. 8. There will also be a Local Business Resource Fair at
the Explore Asheville board room on Wednesday, Feb. 12 from 3-5 p.m., while there will be several Valentine Day activities on Feb. 14. The complete events calendar for the week will be posted on www.loveasheville.org.
The Asheville Grown Business Alliance will host the grand finale Local Social on Saturday, Feb. 15 from 4-7 p.m. at the LEAF Global Arts Center (70 S. Market St.)—featuring immersive global music and art experience—and The Block Off Biltmore (across the street at 39 S. Market).
At the LEAF Global Arts Center, patrons will groove to tunes by DJ Delight and enjoy award-winning craft beer from Archetype Brewing, select wines form Asheville Wine Market and treats from the French Broad Food Co-op. At the Block Off Biltmore, there will be free salsa dance lessons (sessions at 5 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.) and scrumptious vegan dishes by Sacred Life Comida. Attendees will have the opportunity to enter a drawing for two three-day passes to the Love Shine Play Yoga Festival and the Ultimate Staycation Package from Diamond Brand.
Asheville Grown will reveal its brand-new logo design by Sound Mind Creative at the event. Those in attendance can purchase locally made Spiritex sweatshirts and t-shirts with the new design, printed by Asheville-based screen printer Image 420.
How local businesses can participate in Go Local Week
The Go Local Movement is calling to locally-owned businesses across Buncombe County to celebrate together by electrifying their neighborhoods through special events, sales, food, drink, live music and art. We are encouraging residents to show their love for Asheville, discover a new restaurant, explore a different neighborhood and come downtown again. If you have a locally-owned, independent business and you wish to participate, please fill out this form with the details of your event(s) and be sure to select “Go Local Week” from the dropdown list as one of your categories. By doing so, your event will appear on multiple platforms, including the Asheville Grown Business Alliance website and ExploreAsheville.com, free websites that, combined, receive more than 4 million views a year and are designed to support local businesses. In addition, help us promote your events via social media by using #GoLocalAVL.
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