Under the new system, similar to that employed by the national Living Wage For Us campaign, businesses could remain in the Living Wage Program if they agreed to an $18 hourly minimum wage and “committed annual increases” toward a $20.10 wage rate.

Under the new system, similar to that employed by the national Living Wage For Us campaign, businesses could remain in the Living Wage Program if they agreed to an $18 hourly minimum wage and “committed annual increases” toward a $20.10 wage rate.
North Carolina can support as many as nine Las Vegas-style casinos with gambling throughout the state, including one in the Asheville area, according to a report commissioned by the General Assembly.
The new plans call for three buildings with a combined total of 585,360 square feet, as well as 463 parking spaces and truck loading docks. The project is tentatively scheduled to come before Asheville City Council for final approval on Tuesday, Jan. 24, where the public will be allowed to provide further input.
On Dec. 30, the nonprofit completed the purchase of 34 acres in Brevard to expand the preserve. The new land will bolster the existing 395-acre park, owned by the city of Brevard, which connects to the Pisgah National Forest.
One local transit corridor inspires daily grins — and groans — through its plethora of clever roadside signs and business names. Running roughly from Mostly Import Auto Repair on Biltmore Avenue to Thyme in the Garden on Weaverville Highway, this pun-sodden stretch is a welcome sight for wordplay fans and weary commuters alike.
During the Jan. 3 meeting of the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners, Asheville Mayor Esther Manheimer fielded questions about the chain of events that left tens of thousands without water over the Christmas and New Year’s holidays.
Community members weigh in on the impact of visitors and “progress” throughout 2022.
Backed by a $400,000 grant from the N.C. Land and Water Fund, the nonprofit Mills River Partnership is restoring roughly 14 acres of riverside near the plant. Maria Wise, the nonprofit’s executive director, says her organization will stabilize the riverbanks and replace invasive plants with native varieties.
“Brevard has a uniqueness and a whole different vibe than existed 10 years ago in a really cool way,” says Dee Dee Perkins, owner of the outdoor supplies and gear shop D.D. Bullwinkel’s. She credits new breweries and Transylvania County Tourism’s focus on mountain biking.
At the Asheville Planning and Zoning Commission meeting at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 7., Alex Cole of the city’s Planning and Urban Design department will share new details on the African American Heritage Resource Survey and Burton Street Architectural Survey.
On heels of a 2021 study that showed the power of the French Broad River as an economic driver, the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce convened a panel to discuss the importance of keeping that engine clean.
The local business group’s annual event usually features WNC’s General Assembly delegation and its reflections on happenings in Raleigh. This year, the entirety of Buncombe County’s incoming state House contingent was absent: As newly elected officials, Eric Ager, Lindsey Prather and Caleb Rudow were taking part in orientation at the capitol.
An action plan county staffers presented to the Board of Commissioners Oct. 18 includes steps to help owners of cheaper homes seek reductions if they think the county has valued their homes too highly, to get property owners to report when they upgrade their homes and to refine some aspects of how Buncombe’s appraisers do their jobs.
This year, seven companies were ready to pitch. Xpress takes a look at them all.
Local nonprofit leaders say they’re seeing more companies prioritize volunteering and service projects rather than just giving money. They’re also seeking long-term relationships with specific organizations rather than just one-off collaborations.
Built in 1928 and designed by the architectural firm of Beacham and LeGrand, the three-story space at 162 Coxe Ave. has been home to Well Played Board Game Café since summer 2022.
In partnership with the WNC Farmers Market, the Asheville zoo launches its Educational Farmers Market Garden starting Wednesday, Nov. 16. The new exhibit focuses on sustainable relationships between agriculture and nature.
After the Buncombe County Planning Board voted not to recommend a plan for mountaintop development on 176 acres in Pinners Cove, developer KLP Pinners EAT, LLC resubmitted an application for the same site using county rules that provide no avenue for public input.
Asheville Watchdog contributor John Boyle explains his decision to join the nonprofit news startup after 27 years with Asheville’s daily newspaper.
The initiative will make 150 spaces in the county’s Coxe Avenue garage available to low-income downtown employees at $40 per month — less than half the current $85 monthly rate — by the end of the year.
“There aren’t a ton of women who offer both photo and video services, but we refuse to let that lack of representation hold us back,” says Eric McGrady, co-founder of Authentic Asheville.