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      Live Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Great Smoky Mountains, the Asheville area attracts newcomers for its astounding quality of life, low crime rate and welcoming entrepreneurial environment. Known for its culinary delights, history, architecture, natural settings and as a Mecca for adventure lovers, Asheville has something for everyone.
    • Work
      Work

      Whether you are just out of school or a veteran of the workforce, Western North Carolina offers outstanding opportunities. The quality of life and low unemployment rate found in the Asheville area draws top-talent from major cities throughout the nation. Professional, creative and technical specialists choose the Asheville area as their home.

    • Visit
      Visit Whether your ideal Asheville visit takes you gallery hopping on Broadway, antique shopping in Biltmore Village, trekking along the Appalachian Trail, or to a downtown show at a rock club named one of the top five in the country by Rolling Stone Magazine, the Asheville area has something guaranteed to delight every visitor. Don’t just take our word for it…experience it for yourself.
    • Community Events
      Community Events

      Check our community calendar for a list of upcoming events and happenings hosted by Chamber members.

    • Demographics
      Demographics

      The Economic Development Coalition of Asheville-Buncombe County’s research team serves as a central point of information for the latest regional data and resources.

    • Find A Business
      Find A Business

      Find online business listings of Chamber members. This user-friendly search makes this page worth bookmarking as your guide to Asheville area businesses.

  • Chamber
    • Membership
      Membership Ask almost any Chamber member why they are a member and they’ll tell you—in Asheville, it’s the most important way to meet people and grow your business. As North Carolina’s third largest Chamber, the Asheville Chamber includes more than 2,000 businesses, organizations and coalitions. Members know the value a membership provides. Find out how members find value with the Asheville Chamber.
    • Departments
      Departments

      The departments of the Asheville Chamber help fulfill the organization’s mission of increasing the region’s livability by advancing its economic vitality. Learn more about the work and roles of the departments that make up your Chamber.

    • Chamber Events
      Chamber Events

      Membership opens the door to a multitude of opportunities for making new contacts, getting exposure to new ideas and networking with our region’s foremost leaders during events hosted by the Asheville Chamber. Check out our calendar of events developed especially for members of the Asheville Chamber. Be sure to register online and check back often -- we update our calendar of events frequently!

    • Photos & Video
      Photos & Video Look at snapshots from Chamber events and view videos of Chamber programming and events.
    • Leadership
      Leadership Meet and connect with the leadership team that sets goals and leads the activities of the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce.
    • Young Professionals
      Young Professionals Young Professionals of Asheville (YPA) is a non-profit organization focused on connecting young professionals through community and social events. Get involved and learn more about opportunities for business networking, professional development, service through volunteering, leadership training and social events.
    • FAQs
      FAQs Do you have questions about the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce? Are you wondering where we are located, what we do, or how to find photos of the Asheville area? We’ve listed answers to our most frequently asked questions here.
    • E-News
      E-News

      Each Chamber E-News is filled with updates on events, programs, membership, and information from our members! Read past issues or sign up for the Chamber E-Newsletter.

    • Chamber Press Releases
      Chamber Press Releases

      Get the most recent Chamber news in our press release archive.

    • Find A Business
      Find A Business

      Find online business listings of Chamber members. This user-friendly search makes this page worth bookmarking as your guide to Asheville area businesses.

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    • Target Clusters
      Target Clusters The Asheville region has expertise in several dynamic talent driven industries. Local businesses, educational programs, and community leaders are working in collaboration to nurture and grow these targeted sectors.
    • Research & Reports
      Research & Reports

      Ranked as one of the country’s “Best Places for Business and Careers” by Forbes Magazine, Asheville successfully embodies a fresh mix of eclectic sophistication within a culturally and economically diverse community. The EDC's research team serves as a central point of information for the latest regional data and resources.

    • Attracting & Growing Businesses
      Attracting & Growing Businesses

      Consider the Economic Development staff your one-stop resource for connecting to the Asheville community. Their comprehensive services are free of charge and confidential. Contact the EDC staff to learn how they can assist your company through your relocation or expansion project.

    • Small Business & Entreprenuership
      Small Business & Entreprenuership

      Small businesses are the backbone of Asheville’s economy. The community embraces the impact of these companies on our culture and lifestyle. The Chamber of Commerce, Economic Development Coalition and other community organizations have developed a variety of resources designed to help all small businesses succeed.

    • Success Stories & Testimonials
      Success Stories & Testimonials Many businesses are thriving in Asheville and yours could be next. Here are a few of the local businesses making headlines recently.
    • Contacts
      Contacts Consider the Economic Development staff your one-stop resource for connecting to the Asheville community. Find a complete list of staff available to help you plan the next phase of your business.
    • Announcements & Press Releases
      Announcements & Press Releases Asheville’s economy and industry is constantly evolving. Keep up to date on the latest industry announcements and plans here. Contact the EDC staff if your company has exciting news to share with the community.
    • Find A Business
      Find A Business

      Find online business listings of Chamber members. This user-friendly search makes this page worth bookmarking as your guide to Asheville area businesses.

    • Asheville 5x5 Campaign
      Asheville 5x5 Campaign

      Asheville 5x5 is a five-year economic development initiative of the Chamber and the Economic Development Coalition of Asheville-Buncombe County. Read on to learn more about the Chamber's efforts to grow 5,000 new jobs in the region.

Photo Credit: Economic Development Coalition
Business Tools for Agriculture

 

In agriculture, growing crops or raising animals is just the first step to success. Agriculture requires understanding business concepts as well. On this page we have tools to help.
  • In the business plan section, you will find business plan templates designed for farms and ranches. AgTools is free software that helps you with crop planning, financing options and crop lease agreements.
  • Our funding information includes loans for agriculture. You should also look in our regular Funding section of the Tools for USDA rural loan opportunities.
  • In the Management section, you will find tools to analyze and reduce farm hazards, manage your farm records and manage your finances.
  • We have information on taxes and regulations for agriculture.
  • Consider new ways to market your products with our marketing tools.
  • We have many resources to help you export your products.
  • Our Green Sustainable Business Practices section contains a sample Environmental Management System specifically for agriculture, as well as many other tools.
  • The disaster section contains disaster relief programs for farms as well as information on farm security - to protect farms from bio-terrorism and disease.
  • If you are getting ready to retire, or are taking over a family farm, look at the AgTransitions tool in the Other category in the right panel.

 
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Business plan
  • NC MarketReady Toolkit for Farm Enterprises
  • Ag-Biz Program from Mountain BizWorks
  • RAFI's Farm Sustainability Program
  • Guide to Developing a Business Plan for Farms and Rural Businesses
  • AgPlan - Business Plan: free software for rural businesses
  • AgTools: Free software to manage financial risk in agriculture
  • Interested in expanding your agricultural business? Cooperative Extension Business Development Files can help

Funding  see more
  • Energy Efficiency Loans and Grants for Businesses or Agricultural Producers
  • Small farm funding resources
  • The Farmer's Guide to Agricultural Credit
  • USDA Loans for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers
  • Cost share grants to help develop sources of agricultural income
  • Specialty Crop Grant Program
  • Small Dairy Pasteurizer Loan Program
  • Family Fund Innovation Fund
  • North Carolina Agriculture Cost Share Program for best management practices
  • USDA Value-Added Producer & Renewable Energy Grants
  • Producer grants from SARE

Management  see more
  • NC Cooperative Extension - Buncombe County Office
  • Getting on Track: Basic agricultural records - a video
  • RightRisk: Simulation software to evaluate agriculture and ranching risk
  • Learning Spanish: Farm vocabulary
  • Food Risk Safety Management Guide from Kansas State
  • Interpreting financial statements - online video training to improve your farm business
  • Internet strategies to improve farm management: free e-learning course
  • Apprentice-Link: Matching farming apprentices with local farmers

Farm safety  see more
  • Farm/Agricultural/Rural Management Hazard Analysis Tool
  • Safety video clips for agriculture
  • OSHA e-tool for agricultural hazards
  • Agricultural safety resources
  • Farm first aid kit
  • Commercial on-farm food safety practices
  • N.C. MarketReady Fresh Produce Safety training

Taxes and regulations
  • US Fair Labor Standards for Agricultural Workers
  • Taxes for Agriculture - a video
  • IRS Agricultural Tax Center
  • National Agricultural Center sponsored by the EPA
  • Regulatory Information for the Agriculture Sector
  • Online food safety certification courses from NCSU Extension Program

Marketing  see more
  • Promote your farm on BuyAppalachian.org
  • Western North Carolina Marketing Center in Asheville
  • Raising pasture animals? Promote your business on ncchoices.com
  • Sell direct? Add your farm to the North Carolina Farm Fresh Program
  • Add your business to the North Carolina General Store
  • Agricultural marketing
  • Get certified Appalachian Grown: Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project (ASAP)

Exporting  see more
  • North Carolina Agricultural International Trade Office
  • Include your business in the Export Directory of US Food Distribution Companies
  • Southern US Trade Association export assistance for agriculture
  • Basics of exporting food and agricultural products from SUSTA
  • Export training for small businesses from SUSTA
  • Register as an exporter with the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service
  • Agricultural Exporters: USDA Export Credit Guarantee Program
  • AgExportLinks: Export assistance for agriculture and food-related businesses

Government Inspections
  • Food Processing Environmental Assistance Center
  • Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) voluntary audit verification program from the USDA

Green practices  see more
  • NC Organic - information on certification, production, marketing for North Carolina farmers
  • National Organic Program
  • Center for Urban Agriculture
  • Collaborative Regional Alliance for Farmer Training in sustainable agriculture (Organic Growers School)
  • Sustainable agriculture workshops
  • Environmental Management System for agriculture
  • North Carolina Pesticide Safety Education
  • Livestock operation? Free environmental assessments and technical assistance
  • Energy Consumption Awareness Tools for Agriculture
  • Good Agricultural Practice (GAP) self-audits
  • Organic Transition Course for agriculture
  • Integrated pest management for organic crops online course from SARE
  • Growing Small Farms: Sustainable agricultural program from NC Cooperative Extension
  • NC Environmental Quality Incentives Program provides incentive payments and cost-shares to implement conservation practices
  • Agricultural Management Assistance for farms implementing conservation practices
  • National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service
  • Energy savings in agriculture

Disaster  see more
  • FarmAid: Disaster assistance
  • Farm disaster assistance programs
  • Agriculture Issues after a Flood
  • Farm security and animal and plant diseases

Other  see more
  • Information on starting a winery in North Carolina
  • AgTransitions: online tool to build a plan to transition to the next generation
  • BioMass Crop Assistance Program
  • Farmers: communicate with the USDA: Know your Farmer/Know your Food


 

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