It’s time to kick off the third year of Go Local, the loyalty card from Asheville Grown Business Alliance that raises funds for Asheville City Schools and the local economy. Part one of our series looks at the big difference the little card is making in city schools.
Asheville City Schools Foundation announces the 2014 Go Local card directory.
This Friday, Sept. 13, is opening night of Eliada’s Annual Corn Maze.
On Friday, September 6, Western North Carolina’s largest corn maze and fall event will open to the public, featuring a design that honors Eliada’s partnership with the Asheville Grown Business Alliance.
The third celebration of unchained and independent Asheville, with its creative mélange of music, food and wares, happens on May 5. It promises to be a delightful day, with two stages of terrific music, a variety of local food vendors and an array of fun things to browse and buy.
“Corporate capitalism is unable to meet the needs of people and planet,” says economist and independent nonprofit organizer Howard Nemon. On April 10, he introduced Ashevilleans to the “New Economy,” an enterprising initiative that strives “to find an economic structure that works for everyone.”
Starting last Friday, those purchasing the Go Local discount cards can designate which Asheville-grown group will receive the $5 donation included in the purchase.
The most successful buy-local initiatives and partnerships “are those where everyone recognizes that having thriving downtowns, neighborhoods serving business districts, a strong base of independently owned businesses and ongoing opportunities for entrepreneurs is a community interest — not just a business interest,” says Jeff Milchen, co-founder and co-director of the American Independent Business Alliance.
Tonight, Asheville City Council is set to tackle the issue of a Business Improvement District — a services nonprofit funded by a special tax district in downtown. Here’s a roundup of information and perspectives on this controversial topic.
Here’s a gift idea for you: The brand-new Go Local discount card being offered by the Asheville City Schools Foundation and the Asheville Grown Business Alliance. Remember school checks? They were popular, yes, but the discounts were typically for chain restaurants and half the money went to the company that underwrote the program. The Go-Local […]
Ready for the next Local Social? On Sunday, Oct 23, drift on down to the courtyard of the Crêperie Bouchon, decked out in your best ghostly (or zombiefied) finery for “Feast Local.”
“The bottom line is, it’s a love story about Asheville Grown Business Alliance and the Big Crafty loving each other and loving what we do,” says Justin Rabuck. “And truly loving the community with all of our heart and wanting to have a party for everyone who participates.” Rabuck is the co-creator of twice-yearly indie-craft […]
A nationwide study of “independent retailer vitality” conducted by the American Booksellers Association and Civic Economics, an a planning firm, ranks the Asheville metro area 53rd in the country, and one of the top 10 in its region and population categories.
It’s been one year since the Asheville Grown Business Alliance launched its Love Asheville campaign. Now the hand-cranked posters and T-shirts are ubiquitous reminders of how our community creates and keeps it character: Independent businesses. “The purpose of the posters and shirts is to create a moving message to customers that shows that we are […]
If you made your way around downtown Asheville on a Saturday night last December, you might have noticed that staff members at several local businesses were wearing the same shirt. And it was no coincidence: What you were witnessing was the birth of the buy-local campaign dubbed Asheville Grown.
