From the press release from Mountain BizWorks:
Asheville, NC – May 21, 2012: Today, Mountain BizWorks announced that it will close its Hendersonville field office on May 31 in conjunction with the closing of its Sylva field office on June 30.
According to CEO Shaw Canale, “this is a strategic decision where we are not reacting to losses, but taking action to develop a more effective, creative and sustainable model for working with businesses across western North Carolina.”
This restructuring was necessary to address the evolving needs of the region’s small businesses. Rather than dedicating resources to physical locations outside of Asheville, this current strategy will enable Mountain BizWorks to invest in efforts that create jobs that sustain families and support asset building.
Mountain BizWorks points to the success of its agricultural program over the past year, through which it helped over 200 farmers and food producers and distributors in 14 western North Carolina counties start or grow their agricultural businesses. This work is based in Asheville but offered throughout the region.
“The agricultural program demonstrates that it is possible to build a program that is relationship and partnership based rather than building based,” says Canale.
Mountain BizWorks will continue to offer lending, consulting and training to entrepreneurs across the region through its Asheville office. Customized lending, coaching and training in Spanish for Latino entrepreneurs – to be based in the Asheville office – will also be available in all western North Carolina counties.
“Closing an office is never an easy decision to make, but these difficult decisions demonstrate our commitment to strengthening our core work and deepening our impact in well defined client markets,” says Canale.
ABOUT MOUNTAIN BIZWORKS: Through lending, consulting and training, Mountain BizWorks helps smaller businesses grow, and larger businesses thrive. We provide a continuum of services to help businesses in Western North Carolina grow from pre-launch ideas to durable businesses that create permanent, family-wage jobs. Mountain BizWorks is a non-profit community development financial institution (CDFI) and was founded in 1989.
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