Day: February 26, 2016
Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project — profile
The Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project has kicked off 2016 with expanded outreach, not the least of which is a renovated version of its Local Food Guide. First released in print and online in 2002, it now features a new domain name and improved search and navigation functions, along with an interface optimized for smartphones and tablets. “It has … Read more
Blue Ridge Food Ventures — profile
Tucked away in the corner of A-B Tech’s Enka campus, budding local businesses like Buchi Kombucha and Lusty Monk Mustard have had the opportunity to grow their roots in an 11,000-square-foot, FDA-inspected, shared-use facility called Blue Ridge Food Ventures. Success for this organization doesn’t come from keeping clients, but from watching them leave. “It’s the … Read more
Green Opportunities — profile
Green Opportunities, a nonprofit job training and employment program founded in 2008, works to ensure that all residents of the region have access to sustainable employment in our rapidly growing local economy. Operating out of the Arthur R. Edington Education & Career Center in Asheville’s Southside neighborhood, GO focuses on workforce development in selected growth … Read more
Mountain BizWorks — profile
Each year, millions of dollars in loans flow into Western North Carolina-based businesses, and Mountain BizWorks is a big reason it happens. In 2015, the group made “nearly $2 million in loans to 80 new and existing local businesses. Those businesses directly created 175 new, good jobs in our community and supported an additional 200 … Read more
WNC Green Building Council — profile
The Western North Carolina Green Building Council was established in 2000 as a volunteer effort by a handful of conscientious builders who wanted to educate others on the health and environmental impacts of design and construction. In the intervening years, the group has grown and provided direct services and weatherization education to 6,000 professionals and … Read more
B Lab — profile
“Best for the World” is the goal of the companies that make up the B Corp movement. The “B” stands for benefit — and not just the monetary kind. Certified B Corps create benefits not just for their shareholders, but for the community, the environment, employees, consumers and more. “Instead of just focusing on maximizing profit, … Read more
Nonprofits face their own sustainability issues
In fulfilling their mission to help make Western North Carolina’s communities more sustainable, our nonprofits rely on grants, fees and donations to continue fulfilling their charitable missions. A sustainable cycle of giving and receiving lies at the core of their survival. Nonprofits are deeply woven into the fabric of WNC. They provide direct services, such as … Read more
Mountain Xpress writers and designers earn North Carolina Press Association awards
The 2015 News, Editorial and Photojournalism awards were presented Thursday, and Xpress was honored with first and second place in the Beat Feature Reporting category, as well as second place for Election/Political Reporting and second place for a niche publication with our Best of WNC 2015-2016 Pocket Guide.
