Create Appalachia Competitors

Mountain BizWorks creates economic opportunity for the people of the mountains and foothills of North Carolina. We help small businesses start, grow, and create jobs through loans, classes, and coaching. We rely on investments from individuals and institutions to make small business loans. Founded in 1989, Mountain BizWorks is a U.S. Treasury certified non-profit community development financial institution (CDFI). We have a particular focus on working with businesses unable to access bank financing, as well as low-income, minority, women, and immigrant entrepreneurs, and businesses that operate within the local food system. Mountain BizWorks’ focus is the full range of small business development – from start-ups to existing businesses that aim to grow and create jobs.

United Way fights for a better Bluegrass. We convene the people and organizations with the passion, expertise and resources to impact lasting change. United we fight, united we win.

The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) is an economic development agency of the federal government and 13 state governments focusing on 420 counties across the Appalachian Region. ARC’s mission is to innovate, partner, and invest to build community capacity and strengthen economic growth in Appalachia to help the Region achieve socioeconomic parity with the nation. Established by an act of Congress in 1965, ARC has been working directly with federal, state and local partners to build a sustainable economic future for the Region. In fiscal year 2015, ARC approved more than $101 million in funding for 466 nonhighway projects in the Region. These investments will help create or retain more than 23,000 jobs, train more than 23,000 students and workers, attract an additional $204.9 million in other project funding, and leverage $765.8 million in private investments in Appalachia. Learn more about our work, strategic investments and research at www.arc.gov