Car NationDragonfly PotteryFandemoniumMolonito
Comments From Alumni

I believe in local communities helping its businesses grow and appreciate Mountain BizWorks teaching its members to understand how to start and keep their businesses operational and profitable.

Brigitte Price - Sylva Office Support, Inc.

Support Local Businesses!

Soulspiresoundandart
Category: Education & Training
Mary Finsterwalde
147 Central Avenue
Swannanoa, NC 28778
Email: darksunflower@hotmail.com
Website: http://www.soulspiresoundandart.com

Private piano/music theory and composition lessons.

Halcyon LLC
Category: Education & Training
Stephanie Yarski
14 Mimidis Lane
Swannanoa, NC 28778
Phone: (828)692-5131
Email: mick8513@aol.com

Adult day care and group home for people with developmental disabilities.

Visit our online directory for a complete listing of alumni-owned and operated businesses!

For over two decades, Mountain BizWorks has been in the hope business, the dream business, the opportunity business.  We have been helping small business owners build the economy of Western North Carolina one business and one job at a time.  Mountain BizWorks values serving all individuals who aspire to be entrepreneurs and they believe that people should be able to create a better life for themselves and their families through business ownership.   Mountain BizWorks believes that successful businesses create long-term social benefits and economic prosperity, particularly in underserved communities.  They value the dignity and work of each individual and encourage self-sufficiency, accountability, and cooperation.  Furthermore, they value being a community that bridges the gap between entrepreneurs of varying incomes, geographies and ethnicities. Mountain BizWorks is an entrepreneurial, non-profit organization that operates with a double bottom line of social impact and financial viability -- ensuring a permanent resource for the Western North Carolina region.

In 2009, Mountain BizWorks was able to provide its services to 1074 entrepreneurs (65% were low-income, 61% were women, 26% were racial or ethnic minorities).  Those individuals created 163 businesses and expanded 390 businesses. In turn, those businesses created 309 jobs and sustained 1147 jobs. We also made 49 loans totaling almost $792,800.

Since thriving small businesses are central to a vibrant regional economy, our vision is that every entrepreneur has access to business training, support, and capital for creating and sustaining successful businesses.

Eliza Lynn - Musician - Asheville

Alumni Spotlights


Mountain BizWorks’ alumna Eliza Lynn has just finished recording her new CD! Eliza was voted Best Local Singer/Songwriter of 2006 by the Mountain Xpress! Her new CD features her rocking band mates and special guests from many of the super-talented professional musicians in our community - including members of: Firecracker Jazz Band, Stephanie's Id, the Barrel House Mamas, Lo-Fi Breakdown and others!

Thanks to funding from pre-order CD sales and sponsorship from our community, Eliza has been able to create her new work with minimal debt. To date, over $3,500 has been raised, enabeling Eliza to record at Echo Mountain Studio with Danny Kadar as a Co-Producer. This is half of the money needed to complete the project. Visit www.elizalynn.com if you would like to pre-order your copy of Eliza's new CD or consider becoming a business sponsor of this CD and have your business' logo included in her packaging. To become a business sponsor and have your business logo included on her packaging, please email eliza@elizalynn.com.

Since becoming Foundations certified, Eliza has used Mountain BizWorks’ Growth through Objectives (GO) program to enhance her business and received capital through our loan program.

"I have learned from Mountain BizWorks, especially through my GO program Coach, that creating a business is a richly creative endeavor that helps me to embrace my personal worth and recognize that my gifts and talents have a rightful spot in our community's marketplace." -Eliza Lynn