Free Daily Headlines

Business

Set your text size: A A A

Business

In a first, Sierra Nevada buys a brewery

Henderson County Business

Housing starts surged by 40 percent in 2018

Reflecting a booming construction economy, new construction surged by 27 percent while remodeling work spiked by 62.5 percent in 2018, according to values reported to the Henderson County Inspections Department.   Read Story »

Hendersonville Business

PR firm, bicycle shop moving to Seventh Avenue District

A public relations firm and a bicycle shop are moving to the Historic Seventh Avenue District downtown. Formation PR + Brand, a public relations and branding agency serving the education, healthcare, nonprofit, public health, and regional planning sectors, announced Wednesday that it is relocating from Flat Rock to Locust Street and noted that Sycamore Cycles is moving, too. "We're moving because we want to invest in that part of town," said Erica Allison, Formation's founder and CEO. She and her husband bought the building and are renting space to Sycamore. “Twelve years ago, I founded my firm to empower clients to make a positive impact in the world around us, and although our clients reach across the U.S., I remain passionate about the economic development and prosperity of Henderson County,” Allison said. “By joining the Seventh Avenue District, we are eager to work as part of and help make a positive impact in the area’s revitalization and path forward.” Formation's new office will be located at 735 Locust St., one of the two buildings formerly occupied by Champion Comfort Experts. The second building will be occupied by Sycamore Cycles, which moves from Third Avenue East downtown. “The addition of Formation PR + Brand and Sycamore Cycles represents established businesses choosing the Seventh Avenue District, a mark of the district’s success and a positive reflection on those businesses who’ve made start-up investments over the years," Downtown Hendersonville Economic Development Director Lew Holloway said. "This is a very positive trend, and we’re excited about what both businesses bring to the district.” Formation PR + Brand, formerly known as Allison Development Group, rebranded with a new name in 2017 on the 10th anniversary of its founding. The rebranding to Formation PR + Brand reflected the agency’s mission – Listen. Create. Empower. Impact. – and creative process to focus solely on public relations and branding services.   Read Story »

Asheville Business

American adds flight from AVL to Dallas

American Airlines is adding daily nonstop service from Asheville Regional Airport to Dallas Fort Worth International Airport starting May 3, the airline and AVL announced.   Read Story »

Flat Rock Business

Flat Rock Park Foundation hires new fundraiser

The Flat Rock Park & Recreation Foundation has hired Tracey Daniels as its new director of development, replacing Maurean Adams.   Read Story »

Fletcher Business

Neighbors poised to fight 1,224-home development

Laid out on a network of streets named for North Carolina waterways — Catawba, Yadkin, Pamlico, Hiawassee and others — River Stone is filled with nice homes with one- and two-car garages, playgrounds out back and basketball hoops in front.   Read Story »

Hendersonville Business

Narnia Studios moving across Main to historic Ewbank building

After more than two decades at the same location, Narnia Studios will cross Main Street and relocate to the historic Ewbank building at 408 N. Main Street on March 1, owner Barbara Hughes announced. Designed by Erle Stillwell and built in 1923 by Ernest Lucas Ewbank and sons Frank and Harry, the Ewbank & Ewbank building was home to the family insurance and real estate business until 2004. The building was last home of The Fountainhead bookstore. The climate-controlled shop is located in the heart of downtown right next door to another Stilwell building, the Henderson County Genealogical and Historical Society and mineral museum, which was built as State Trust Bank. Founded in 1995, Narnia Studios is a fresh flower florist as well as a source for artwork from over 50 different local artists and potters. Narnia Studios will have the same selection of goods in an even more welcoming environment. “We appreciate every purchase by our long time and brand new Narnia friends," Hughes said. "We know how important it is for our customers to have a shop they can rely on year after year. Now we will have space to better serve Hendersonville and its visitors."   Read Story »

Mills River Business

Ask Matt ... where factories could locate

Q. Do we have any prime industrial sites left in Henderson County and if so where are they? Yes, we still have sites, actually a bunch. I sat down with Brittany Brady, president of the Partnership (also known as the Henderson County Partnership for Economic Development). Brady said there are 17 industrial sites actively being promoted by the Partnership. For this story I chose five that I consider prime sites because they have some or all utilities in place, good road access and are 15 acres or greater. Let's take a look. The Hudgens site encompasses 107 acres on McMurray Road near Bloomfield's (dish barn). It is plainly visible from the Interstate. It offers both water and sewer and more than half of the tract is already zoned industrial. Beverly-Hanks has the site listed for $18,360,000 (recently reduced). The property is about as flat as you can find here and can easily be developed. The Garrison Lane site includes 48 acres located behind Cracker Barrel and Appleland Business Park on Upward Road. It has access to water and sewer. You may know this property as High Hope Dirt and Mulch, a 50-year old business operated by the Garrison family. There is a high hill in the middle of the property with a lot of dirt missing. The sales price is $4.8 million. Ferncliff Park in Mills River has two prominent tenants — Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. and GF Linamar. Ferncliff has 76 acres available that can be split into three or four industrial sites. Once part of the vast land holdings of the Westfeldt family of Rugby Grange, the property contained a summer home the family called Ferncliff. One of the parcels has "back door" access to the Asheville Regional Airport, which is a rare amenity. All sites are "NC Certified" which means they have passed a rigorous prequalification process. You can buy the whole 76 acres for a cool $9 million. Broadpointe Industrial Park on Fanning Field Road off N.C. 280 has a 15-acre combined industrial site for sale. It's use for a large industry is somewhat hindered because of the power line that bisects the property. The price tag is $1.4 million. Taproot Dairy Farm on Butler Bridge Road is a mega-site totaling 320 acres although 90 are in the flood plain. It's zoned commercial and would need to be rezoned for industry. The site is easily viewable from I-26. Taproot has utilities either on site or nearby but road access for 18-wheelers may be problematic without a new interchange. That aside, the property can be subdivided and it has long been called "a developers dream." Taproot is currently owned by the Johnston family and the asking price is a cool $20 million. The next closest mega industrial site in the state is in the Greensboro area. Sites are important but new industry likes workforce skills and convenience too. Brady said that a potential industry frequently asks, "What's your 30-minute drive time?" This is because, while the commuting time for production workers is typically 20 to 30 minutes, higher paying workers will drive 45 to 60 minutes. Brady's staff can easily plot out commuting distances for an interested party. Job training is an issue locally because of the labor shortage. "Employers look for trainable workers who can move up the ladder quickly," said Brady. "The high schools and BRCC are part of the pipeline for filling those jobs." * * * * * Send questions to askmattm@gmail.com.     Read Story »

North Carolina Business

Entegra to merge with Knoxville-based Smartbank

SmartFinancial Inc., the parent company of SmartBank, and Entegra Financial Corp., the parent company of Entegra Bank, have signed a merger agreement under which Entegra will combine with SmartFinancial in a strategic merger of equals.   Read Story »

Asheville Business

Stein blesses Mission sale after negotiating sustained rural coverage

After negotiating changes to ensure sustained hospital facilities in rural counties and greater geographic representation of a new health care trust, North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein announced Wednesday that he would not object to HCA’s acquisition of Mission Health System’s assets.   Read Story »

Business Archive