On Nov. 21, Gov. Pat McCrory’s office released a statement saying that all of the jobs North Carolina lost during the Great Recession — some 62,000 positions — had been gained back. Not long after, local unemployment numbers started coming in, showing that Asheville had the lowest unemployment numbers among the North Carolina metro areas at […]
A pair of recent interactive info-graphics published by the New York Times and Wall Street Journal highlight troublesome economic statistics for Buncombe County.
Nestled between the occasionally controlled chaos of Black Friday and the countless clicks of Cyber Monday sits a relatively new post-Thanksgiving shopping day. As the name implies, Small Business Saturday calls on holiday gift-seekers to patronize small retailers rather than, or in addition to, big-box stores. This Saturday, Nov. 29, marks the fifth incarnation of […]
Stephanie Swepson-Twitty, president and CEO of Eagle Market Street Development Corporation, was a 30-year veteran of “banking, finance and retail” when she switched gears and went to work for the nonprofit she now directs as an AmeriCorps intern. “I served them two years as an intern,” she said. “And then one thing led to another, […]
Buncombe Commissioners voted along party lines April 1 to give Mountain Bizworks $50,000 toward a new microloan program that will help small local businesses get needed capital. The local business nonprofit will leverage the county funds to receive an additional $300,000 from the federal Small Business Association Microloan Program.
Buncombe County Commissioners voted along party lines March 4 to approve $90,000 for Moogfest.
At their Feb. 18 meeting, Buncombe County Commissioners will consider a $90,000 incentive package for Moogfest.
The freezing temperatures didn’t stop North Carolina Treasurer Janet Cowell from laying out her take on the state of the economy, or prevent a crowd, including many local notables, from showing up to hear, and ask questions. She praised Asheville’s strong economy and “human capital” but noted challenges with infrastructure and state revenue. Photo by Alicia Funderburk
At their first meeting of 2014 on Jan. 7, Buncombe County Commissioners unanimously agreed to give $1.12 million in cash grants to Jacob Holm Industries to help it expand local operations. They also agreed to spend $213,726 to hire 17 new county workers at the Health and Human Services Department and approved new zoning regulations governing renewable energy facilities.
If you’re looking for a new job, the Economic Development Coalition and the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce want to help. They’re holding the 8th Annual Homecoming Job Fair Jan. 8 at the Davis Event Center in the WNC Agricultural Center.
About 150 community leaders gathered Dec. 11 to discuss Asheville’s strengths as a tourism destination, learn about new projects in the works, and share ideas for the future.
Asheville City Schools Foundation announces the 2014 Go Local card directory.
Wolf Ridge Ski Resort is now under new management and big changes are in the works.
Just in time for the holiday shopping season, an innovative new Asheville venture is aiming to transform regular credit or debit cards into reward cards that save local consumers money and benefit local businesses.
Struggling to address an increased demand for services amid a funding crunch, Mountain BizWorks is conducting “an intensive review of our programs and finances,” board Chair Eileen McMinn reports. Most of the organization’s existing training programs will be phased out by the middle of next year. The downsized local nonprofit will focus its remaining resources on lending.
Back in February, President Barack Obama hailed 3-D printing as having “the potential to revolutionize the way we make almost everything.” And now, Asheville area residents have affordable access to that innovative technology, which transforms digital designs into actual real-world objects.
Facing a “liquidity crunch,” Mountain BizWorks CEO Shaw Canale has stepped down from her post, a job she’s had since 2009.
“When we pass by people on the river they’re like, ‘Wow, I’ve never even seen anything like that,” says Will Evert, co-founder of French Broad Boatworks. He’s talking about a new line of high-end, wooden drift boats that he and his business partner, Jason Brownlee, have started handcrafting at their Asheville shop.
After an eight-month delay, New Belgium Brewing will resume site work this November on its Asheville location along Craven Street in the River Arts District.
After operating for 14 months in downtown Asheville, the Apothecary is closing its doors Nov. 1.
At their Oct. 15 meeting, Buncombe Commissioners approved $84,000 in economic incentives for Plasticard-Lockteck International. The deal’s been in the works since last spring, when county officials promised the incentive grants to the company if it expanded operations at its Arden headquarters.
