For 2016 we are moving back to quarterly general meetings, with our first of the year to be held Tuesday, March 22, 2016. Please join us!
WABA Quarterly Meeting
March 22, 2016
9:30am • coffee and networking
10:00am-11:30am • program
Location: East West Venue & Vintage Rentals, 278 Haywood Road
Program & Guest Speakers
Overview of the Economic Development Coalition for Asheville-Buncombe County (EDC)
Ben Teague, Executive Director, EDC
The EDC assists businesses with site selection, relocations to the Asheville area and expansions for existing employers that are growing. Their website provides research reports and comprehensive resources for businesses considering corporate relocation or expansion in Asheville, including a Resources Toolbox for Small Businesses – See: http://www.ashevillechamber.org/economic-development. The EDC also manages AVL 5×5: Vision 2020, a strategic plan for higher-wage jobs in our area focusing on core target clusters of advanced manufacturing, science and technology, healthcare, arts and culture, and knowledge-based entrepreneurship. Ben Teague, Executive Director of the EDC joins us for an overview of the scope of their work and how it affects our small businesses.
Results of the Business Walk Survey
Jeff Joyce, Director of Public Policy, Public Policy Department- Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce
Thank you to the over 77 West Asheville businesses that participated in the recent Business Walk Survey conducted by the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce! The Business Walk survey gauges our community’s business environment by talking face-to-face with business owners and managers to find out their needs and concerns and see how the Chamber might assist. Jeff Joyce, Director of Public Policy at the Chamber will share the results of the recent survey with WABA and relay how that information assists the Chamber and their strategic partners to inform their economic development and public policy efforts aimed at building community through business.
City Updates: Haywood Road Parking Study, Pedestrian Crosswalk Flags, On-street Bike Corral
Ken Putnam, City of Asheville, Director of Transportation
Ken Putnam, the City’s Director of Transportation, will join us to give updates on the Haywood Road Parking Study, the test of Pedestrian Flags for the crosswalk on Haywood Road and the status of the On-Street Bike Corral. Ken will be making a report to City Council on the results and recommendations from the Haywood Road Parking Study on the evening of March 22 – we’ll hear it first at our meeting. The Staff Report and the Parking Study document will be available on the agenda for the City Council meeting on Friday March 18th on the City Council agenda meeting webpage at this link: http://www.ashevillenc.gov/Departments/CityClerk/CurrentMeetingAgenda.aspx.
Direct link to the Haywood Road Parking Study presented to City Council.