Clark Duncan, Senior Vice President of Economic Development with the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce, described some initiatives that are in place to continue to help recruit businesses to the area as well as the talent to fill available positions. 

“There are programs in place for outreach and storytelling through marketing opportunities,” Duncan said. “We want to attract businesses in the STEM sector that bring high-wage jobs and economic value to our communities.” 

Duncan said he believes that the talent pipeline is growing as well. “Our population is projected to reach over 500,000 in the Asheville area by 2030,” he said. “That’s a lot of new residents coming to the area.” Duncan also said that “the lifestyle amenities across WNC really enhance our story for economic development across the region. While residential growth will have its challenges, it is still the lifeblood of the area economy.”

The Economic Development Coalition works in three areas to help growing businesses discover the talent that they need, Duncan said. One is workforce attraction that focuses on recruiting the younger generation into the workforce. “For example, when area students visited BorgWarner Turbo Systems in Arden,” he said, “they were shown what manufacturing really means today. Hopefully this gets them excited about getting into the workforce.”

The EDC also focuses on mentorship, Duncan said. One example he mentioned is Next Avl which pairs college students with mentors to expand their professional networks and retain graduates in the area. “There are approximately 275,000 undergraduates enrolled in colleges and universities within 100 miles of Asheville,” Duncan said. “That’s around 75,000 graduates per year. We are helping to intentionally match these graduates with professionals to help them discover economic possibilities in our region.”

Another priority of the Economic Development Council is diversifying the pool of available talent. “Through an equity lens, we are looking at how we can rectify inclusive hiring partners while working with other foundations to reach underprivileged communities and individuals,” Duncan said. “We want to match these individuals with employers that recognize the need for training, as well as employers that have the desire to build stability and break down barriers for these residents.”