Xpress readers offered up a raft of thought-provoking letters to the editor, commentaries and comments about local affairs in 2021.
Tag: economic development
Showing 1-21 of 49 results
Why we help: Fueled by inspiration and possibility
“I am not just excited but honored to be part of this extraordinary journey to advocate for and protect the French Broad River and to champion responsible economic development and vitality.”
Letter: Arguments against Raytheon plant fall flat
“How far must one live from Gaffney, S.C., in order to avoid culpability for spelling and grammatical errors committed by Bic pens?”
Controversial choices: Debating the Pratt & Whitney project
The Buncombe County Board of Commissioners and other supporters say jobs at the aerospace manufacturing plant will provide opportunities for workers to improve their standards of living. Critics say those wages are not worth the moral cost: Bolstering a military-industrial complex that causes deaths half a world away and eats up government funds better spent on other needs.
Letter: A better way to support jobs in Buncombe
“We should be giving tax incentives to local sustainable businesses, not to a multinational corporation that relies on fossil fuels and perpetuates a war industry that is the scourge of the world.”
Unanimous approval for $27M Pratt & Whitney subsidy
No Buncombe County commissioners addressed why the subsidy was necessary for the company to make its investment during their Nov. 17 meeting. P&W is a division of Raytheon Technologies, a Fortune 50 company with approximately $10 billion in cash reserves.
EDC report shows Buncombe investment slowdown
According to the Economic Development Coalition for Asheville-Buncombe County’s most recent annual report, the coalition attracted just $20 million in capital investment to Buncombe County in fiscal year 2019-20. That figure is down nearly 40% compared to the $33 million invested in fiscal 2018-19.
Enka ‘bridge to nowhere’ connection on Feb. 18 commission agenda
Board members will consider spending an additional $650,000 to connect the bridge to existing roads at the board’s regular meeting in Room 326 at 200 College St. Buncombe officials previously allocated $3 million in taxpayer money for the structure, which was started over four years ago and has yet to carry traffic over Hominy Creek.
Letter: The taxpayers got played
“The recent scandals about misspent economic development funds show that the game was really to create a pool of funds, which certain officials could dip into to spend tax money for their personal benefit.”
Buncombe budget up for public hearing at June 4 meeting
Although County Manager Avril Pinder warned commissioners in April that her recommended budget might cause the county to dip below its policy-recommended fund balance of 15%, the projected difference between Buncombe’s assets and liabilities remains over that bar in the most recent version.
2018 in review: Top 10 Buncombe economic accomplishments, by Kit Cramer
Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce President & CEO Kit Cramer weighed in on the year’s top economic development accomplishments in Buncombe County, starting with funding progress on the Interstate 26 Connector.
Pork free?
ASHEVILLE, NC
Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority celebrates a year of success at annual meeting
Business leaders, nonprofit representatives, elected officials and political candidates from across Buncombe County gathered at the Biltmore Estate’s Lioncrest venue Wednesday, Oct. 28 for the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority’s annual meeting.
Buncombe County Commissioners vote on budget at June 16 meeting
They’ve heard funding requests from nonprofits and others, they’ve seen the budget draft, and they’ve considered the public comments. Now, at the Tuesday, June 16 regular meeting, the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners will vote on the finalized budget for the 2016 fiscal year.
Buncombe commissioners to hold public hearing on 2016 budget
At the Tuesday, June 2, Buncombe County Board of Commissioners meeting, county staff will review the proposed 2016 budget, hear an economic development proposal and discuss seeking advice on a Woodfin firing range.
Who gets paid: Asheville’s fight over incentives
When Asheville City Council voted 5-1 this week to give $90,000 to Moogfest (including $40,000 in cash), it marked the latest chapter in a long Asheville debate: Whether it’s business or festivals, who should get money from the city?
Asheville City Council: To Moog or not to Moog
Asheville City Council passed $90,000 in incentives for Moogfest this evening, both in cash and services, with the possibility of a partnership continuing for years. However, while its proponents touted it as an important investment in the city’s future growth, one Council member asserted that it’s an unreasonable amount of taxpayer dollars to go to an event not entirely open to the public.
LIVE: Twitter coverage of the June 11 Asheville City Council meeting
Budget time! Project X! All that and more at tonight’s Asheville City Council meeting. Follow live Twitter coverage here.
Asheville City Council preview: the magical mystery meeting
The uncertain budget meets the economic development project that no one can talk about. Tonight, the public gets a chance to weigh in on the city of Asheville’s proposed budget and the mysterious “Project X” at tonight’s Asheville City Council meeting.
N.C. Senate bill may dissolve AdvantageWest, Citizen-Times reports
Part of North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory’s plans to turn the Department of Commerce into a public-private partnership that would be run like a business, Senate Bill 127 would mandate the dissolution of regional organizations like AdvantageWest and strip it of state funding. It passed a second reading in the Senate Monday night, May 13, by a 31-17 vote.a
A place at the table: Art and commerce collide in Asheville
As the local creative sector gains financial clout, tensions loom between art as a business, an economic-development tool and a means of personal expression.