Mountain BizWorks’ 2023 was one of record lending, impactful learning, and fresh insights into our region. Bonus: This year’s edition also celebrates our full 35 year history!
Last year, we were able to finance nearly $12 million in loans – ranging from $1,000 to $500,000 – for businesses in our 26 WNC counties. On the learning side, we provided over 20,000 hours of classes and coaching to entrepreneurs. It’s the combination of business lending and peer learning that helps us best support local entrepreneurs across the region – 1,348 in 2023 alone.
These numbers are more than just numbers, though. They represent your favorite coffee spot, your neighborhood bike shop, and your trusted HVAC repair expert. They’re the people and businesses that make your community a great place to live. Click to read brand new stories from local entrepreneurs doing incredible work: Black Bear Lock & Security, Baker Forge, Cura Concrete, and Carolina Mobility Specialists.
While our Year in Review always look back, this year we’re going much further. In 1989, inspired by the success of microfinance internationally, a group of pioneer entrepreneurs and community builders came together. They championed the idea that combining a little financing with a little peer-to-peer business support could unleash the entrepreneurial potential of many.
Inside this edition, you’ll find a special timeline documenting 1989 – 2023. We’re thrilled to share this with you as we move through 2024 and beyond, letting our past inform our present work in the region.
