In the years leading up to the 1972 Clean Water Act, pollution had rendered the French Broad River “too thick to drink and too thin to plow,” as acclaimed local historian Wilma Dykeman wrote. For generations, the river had been used as an open sewer, and sedimentation due to development, heavy metals, other industrial pollution […]
A-B Tech administrators, teachers and students joined with community leaders Sept. 12 to launch “Jobs for the Future,” a campaign on behalf of a 0.25 percent sales-tax increase to fund capital improvements at the school. Photos by Jerry Nelson
Jobs numbers worsened across the state in July, according to data from the state’s Employment Security Commission, and the Asheville area was no exception, losing a total of 2,900 jobs, mostly from the public sector. While unemployment in the area declined slightly, combined with the net job losses, this indicates some unemployed have stopped looking for work.
Follow live Twitter coverage of the keynote address at the Southeast Economic and Workforce Development Conference, where U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development John Fernandez and U.S. Assistant Secretary of Labor for Employment and Training Administration Jane Oates will talk on the overall economic situation and efforts to promote job growth.
About 100 people gathered in Pack Square Aug. 10 to rally for jobs.
Photos by Jerry Nelson, JourneyAmerica.org
Unemployment in the Asheville metropolitan area declined slightly in May, dropping from 7.8 to 7.7 percent, according to figures from the state Employment Security Commission. Job losses in construction in manufacturing were somewhat offset by gains in the business and hospitality sectors. However, Buncombe County saw a slight rise in unemployment, from 7.4 to 7.5 percent.
Linamar Corporation is hosting a management job fair July 5, from noon to 8 p.m. and July 6, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the A-B Tech Enka campus.
Live Twitter coverage of tonight’s awaited economic development news from the Asheville Chamber of Commerce’s annual dinner beginning at 5:30 p.m.. Reportedly, the deal involves Canadian auto-parts manufacturer Linamar occupying the old Volvo plant, recently purchased by the county.
The Buncombe County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously June 28 to purchase the former Volvo plant at 2169 Hendersonville Road for $7 million in taxpayer funds. In the weeks leading up to the vote, county, city and state leaders have hinted that the purchase is part of a larger, multifaceted arrangement with a private employer to take over the site. And in the hours leading up to the vote, WLOS News 13 began reporting that the employer is the Canadian-based Linamar Corporation, a large manufacturer of engines, transmissions and drive trains.
At its June 28 meeting, the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners will consider buying the former Volvo plant on Hendersonville Road for $7 million in hopes of luring another large employer to the property. Meanwhile, the hints keep coming that the purchase could be part of a broader multifaceted jobs announcement: Board Chair David Gantt says “it’ll be one of the biggest hits we’ve had in years.” And News 13 Anchor Russ Bowen reports via Twitter that “sources say Linamar automotive parts company to take over Volvo plant.”
Signs from county, city and state officials are pointing towards a possible big jobs announcement soon. However, many questions remain, including the details of Buncombe County’s plan to purchase the former Volvo plant at 2169 Hendersonville Road.
Poor Republican Sen. Apodaca. The self-disgust this husband of a former school teacher must feel apparently runs pretty deep given the lengths he goes to in his attempts to construct a consoling counter-narrative amid the howls of protest at his party's wholesale gutting of North Carolina's public education system. According to figures from the state […]
Asheville has been getting a lot of new buildings around town, in such places as UNCA, Asheville High, AB-Tech and the courthouse. Where is the money coming from to fund all these? You guessed it: job cuts. The state is also reducing or cutting much-needed mental-health services across the North Carolina. UNCA cut staff or […]
In your Jan. 19 [article] “Front Row Seats,” I read about [former GOP chairman] George Keller. I was astounded by his top two priorities: To require photo identification for voting and to work on redistricting. He stated he was embarrassed about “the division of this state.” I agree he should be embarrassed, but the embarrassment […]
In recent history, employers have used layoffs to cut expenses during economic downtimes. This creates a drastic hardship on the employees who lose their jobs. A better approach is to cut the workweek and spread the pain across all employees. A four-day workweek for everyone is better than laying off the newest employees. — Paul […]
Unemployment in both the Asheville metropolitan area and Buncombe County rose in November, according to data released by the state’s Employment Security Commission. Unemployment in Buncombe rose from 7.4 to 7.9 percent, while metro area unemployment rose from 7.5 to 8.1 percent.
On a recent visit to Asheville, I was surprised at the changes that have taken place in the “Paris of the South" in the year since I moved away. After living here for four years, I came to the conclusion that there was very little about the overall structure [of] Asheville that is sustainable; I […]
I currently work at Buchi and have never felt more at ease in a working relationship between a supervisor and myself than I do with Jeannine Buscher and Sarah Schomber, the owners of Buchi. I have always had complete confidence in voicing any concerns I have to them without fear of losing my job. They […]
I was rather surprised by your recent article "Bottled in Bond” [Dec. 22 Xpress]. This "reporter" is a joke and has written a completely biased, libelous and one-sided smear piece to further [his] friend’s obvious vendetta. The Mountain Xpress should be ashamed of publishing such tabloid yellow journalism. I have it on good authority (my […]
Over the course of the 100 bloody years that it took the U.S. labor movement to win the eight-hour workday, labor militants struck, rioted and were executed for what was then seen as an overly radical demand that would destabilize industry and ruin the economy. Capitalism has undergone massive restructuring on a global scale, including […]
Creative Careers Talk At Unca Thursday, Feb. 5: You can create it, but can you sell it? UNCA’s Career Center is offering a chance to talk creative careers with experienced hands who do just that on Thursday, Feb. 5, from 4 to 6 p.m. in the Mountain Suites at the university’s Highsmith University Union. The […]
