Asheville Business 101 🎓

The top industries and employers in the Asheville metro area

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Photo by @overasheville

More than 200,000 people (and thousands of businesses) contribute to the Asheville metro area’s $20 billion economy. But have you ever wondered about the Land of Sky’s heaviest hitters?

Consider this Asheville Business 101 — your guide to our region’s six key industries and seven major employers.

Note: When we say Asheville metro area, that refers to Buncombe, Haywood, Henderson, and Madison counties.

The following six industries represent ~80% of the Asheville metro area’s economy, based on data from Riverbird Research. We’ve listed them in order of employment numbers.

Education and Health Services | 18% with 36,900 employees

The Buncombe County Board of Education, Veterans Administration, A-B Tech, UNC Asheville, and Mission Health (the latter being ranked one of the Best Health Systems in the US) take the lion’s share of this sector’s employment. See a closer snapshot of education programs.

Asheville’s GE Aviation plant produces revolutionary technology for jet engines.

Leisure and Hospitality | 14% with 27,900 employees

The estimated 10 million people who visit the area each year — and their ~$2.6 billion in spending — have played a major role in this sector’s growth over the last decade. The Biltmore and Omni Hotels are the largest employers, followed by 1,400+ other hotels, restaurants, and small businesses. See more on the economic impact of tourism.

Retail Trade | 14% with 26,000 employees

Ingles, Walmart, and Lowe’s are the largest retailers in the region — but there’s a sizable chunk of 2,500+ mid-sized and small businesses that make up a major part of the puzzle.

New Belgium Brewing — New Belgium produces approximately 500,000 barrels of beer a year.

Government | 12% with 25,800 employees

When you account for the federal, state, and local employees across all four counties in the metro area, plus all the government employees within each city, it adds up to a lot. The largest public administration employer is Buncombe County, which employs ~1,600 people for everything from park maintenance to tax assessment.

Manufacturing | 11% with 22,400 employees

Eaton Corporation, Kendro Laboratory, Wilsonart, and Borgwarner Turbo Systems are some of the largest manufacturing companies in Buncombe County — and we’re proud to also have more than 300 other cutting-edge, advanced manufacturers such as GE Aviation and Thermo Fisher Scientific. Another big name: New Belgium Brewing Company, the fourth-largest craft brewer in the country.

Professional and Business Services | 11% with 20,900 employees

Everything from accounting and law firms to banks and marketing agencies fall under this umbrella — with larger employers including Mau Workforce Solutions, Lionbridge Global Solutions Inc., Flexcare LLC, and Teletech Services Corporation.

NOW SEE WHO'S HIRING

Test your business knowledge: Which company employs the most people globally?

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Today

Hatch’s Fifth Birthday Celebration | Thurs., Sept. 29 | 4:30-7:30 p.m. | Hatch Building, 45 S. French Broad Ave. | Free | Join for an evening of food and drink, camaraderie, live music, and an open house to see the building renovations that are underway.
Regenerative Life Design Playbook Launch Party | Thurs., Sept. 29 | 5:30-7 p.m. | French Broad River Park | Free | Meet author Keri Evjy as she discusses her book and shares songs — copies of the book will be available for sale.
Asheville Sessions featuring The Jazzebelles & the Crooner | Thurs., Sep. 29 | 7-8:30 p.m. | Isis Music Hall | $12+ |Sit back and enjoy this quartet as they take turns gracing an intimate stage with their vibrant renditions of ballads, bossas, and swing numbers.

Friday

Center for Craft Fall Exhibitions Opening Reception | Fri., Sep. 30 | 6-8 p.m. | Center for Craft | Free | Celebrate the start of fall with three new exhibitions: “Disclosure: The Whiteness of Glass,” “Material Reasoning,” and “Mįhą́pmąk.” 🖼️
The Infamous Stringdusters | Fri., Sept. 30 | 7 p.m. | Salvage Station | $30+ | This spirited bluegrass jam band will also include a performance from country performer Sierra Hull. 🎤
Asheville Quilt Show | Fri., Sept. 30-Sun., Oct. 2 | Hours vary | WNC Ag Center, Davis Event Center, 765 Boylston Hwy. | $10 | Explore 300+ quilts from around the country at the 38th iteration of this beloved event.

Saturday

Moroccan Tagine Cooking Class | Sat., Oct. 1 | 11 a.m.-2 p.m. | Asheville Mountain Kitchen, 332 E. Sondley Dr. | $85+ | Learn to prepare a traditional Moroccan lamb tagine with couscous, vegetable sides, and mint tea. 🥘

Plan Ahead

Ukrainian Quartet DakhaBrakha at UNC Asheville | Sun., Oct. 23 | Doors open at 5 p.m.; show starts at 6 p.m. | Lipinsky Auditorium | $15 (limited space) | Attendees can enjoy the unique “ethno-chaos” sound of DakhaBrakha, who merges cabaret, jazz, rock, and hip-hop with Ukrainian folk styles. 🎶 *

We have a monthly guide filled with events + activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.

For tickets to local and regional events, check out our 6AM Tickets resale marketplace.*

100+ MORE EVENTS

Check out Tyger Tyger’s newest exhibit 🎨

“How dark is this darkness #5,” by Nancy Friedland | Photo provided by Tyger Tyger Gallery

Calling all art lovers to Tyger Tyger Gallery’s newest exhibition. 📣

The female-owned gallery — located in the River Arts District at Riverview Station — is presenting “The Sun Touches Everything” Fri., Sept. 30- Sun., Nov. 13.

Curated by artist Danielle Winger, this exhibit is an exploration of the sun’s influence on our collective human experience. Attendees can look forward to:

60+ works
15 national and international artists representing various points of views
An opening reception on Fri., Sept. 30, 5-8 p.m.*

DATE NIGHT AT TYGER TYGER

Weather

69º | Mostly sunny | 10% chance of rain
Expect event cancellations throughout the weekend as remnants of Hurricane Ian move through WNC. The Asheville Lawn Bowling Tournament, for instance, has already been canceled — and Asheville Vegan Fest has been rescheduled for Sun., Oct. 16. (WLOS)

Development

Asheville City Council has authorized a 54-unit expansion and a $1.5 million Housing Trust Fund loan for Laurel Wood, an affordable senior living facility at 650 Caribou Rd. All new units will be deemed affordable for a minimum of 30 years at a mix of 80%, 60%, and 40% area median income. 🏗️ (Asheville Citizen-Times)

Opening

Bear’s Smokehouse Asheville — located at 135 Coxe Ave. — will have a grand opening celebration for its brick-and-mortar and patio on Sat., Oct. 15, starting at 11 a.m. There will be live music from Resonant Rogues, beer, and performances by Imagine Circus. 🍖

Community

It’s official. The Jones Park Playground will be rebuilt in North Asheville, with Asheville City Council giving final approval on Tues., Sept. 27. City Council also recommended the park be renamed after Candace Pickens, a 22-year-old woman who was killed at Jones Park in May 2016. (Asheville Citizen-Times)
Exclusive birthday deals, shoutouts on our member wall, insider information from our team, discounts from our online shop — that’s just a few of the perks you get when you join the AVLtoday Membership Program. Learn more + sign up for this new way to support local journalism. 💻

Outdoors

The Blue Ridge Parkway will expand to include 5,300 more acres of land near the Waterrock Knob Visitor Center, thanks to a collaboration from multiple area land trust partners. Waterrock Knob, located at milepost 451.2, is one of the most rare and biodiverse landscapes in the Eastern US.

Try This

Celebrate dahlia season with a fall floral design class at Blazing Star Flowers. The class takes place Sun., Oct. 9, 2-4:30 p.m. and includes a farm tour, special demonstration, and an opportunity to create your own centerpiece. 💐

Plan Ahead

Local author Susy Chandler will celebrate the launch of her debut novel series “Straight Girls” with a party on Thurs., Oct. 20, 5:30 p.m. at Lenoir-Rhyne University of Asheville. There will be hors d’oeuvres, drinks + treats, plus a special reading and book signing. RSVP to attend. 📘

Award

Local furniture maker Brian Boggs’ Cio Arm Chair was at the International Society of Furniture Designers’ annual INNOVATION + DESIGN Competition. His chair was selected as Best in Show and his Crescent Table received first place in the Professional Dining Room category. Ron Swanson would be proud. 🪑

Sports

We want to make sure that you’re catching all the sports coverage you need to join the conversation. As the fall season gets going, tell us what kind of sports content you want to see in AVLtoday. By completing the survey, you’ll be entered in a drawing for a chance to win team-branded swag up to $100 in value.

Real Estate

This three-year-old property in Jacks Mountain Preserve offers a wilderness feel (with views from the deck and gardening areas) while still having close access to downtown Old Fort + I-40. The property has been historically used as a full-time residence, but it could also be used for long-term or short-term rentals.*

Travel

The perfect fall getaway does exist, and it looks like this modern mountain cabin in Virginia wine country. This chalet-style rental offers three bedrooms and one bath, and did we mention there’s a huge deck?*

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Save this for a rainy day (aka this weekend)

30+ things to do in Asheville, NC during rainy weather 🌧️

A wall of wonderful games await at Well Played Board Game Cafe. | Photo by @holly_mclay_blalock

With heavy rains from Hurricane Ian heading our way, you’ll probably need to take a rain check on your usual weekend adventures. Starting Thursday night (and continuing through Sunday), you can expect 5-7 inches of rain.

As we all weather the storm, we hope this ultimate rainy day bucket list can help keep you entertained.

Note: We recommend calling ahead in case hours have changed — and always remember to stay off the roads in extreme weather conditions, like floods or high winds.

Get playful

Well Played Board Game Cafe | 162 Coxe Ave. | 828-232-7375 | Cozy up with your choice of 700+ board games, plus a generous menu of tea, hot cocoa, beer, wine, and espresso.
Asheville Retrocade | 800 Haywood Rd. #100 | 828-575-9488 | A set fee gets you all the plays you want on games — like Dance Dance Revolution, Street Fighter + ski ball.

Curl up with a good book

Downtown Books + News | 67 N. Lexington St. | 828-253-8654 | Gently-used books to browse. Plus zines + more by local artists.
Battery Park Book Exchange + Champagne Bar | 1 Page Ave #101 | 828-252-0020 | Grab a glass (or a bottle ) of sparkling wine, bring your friends, and have book club. Plus, furry friends are welcome.

See it on the silver screen

The Fine Arts Theatre | 36 Biltmore Ave. | 828-232-1536 | New releases + independent flicks alike. Showtimes here.
Asheville Brewing Company | 675 Merrimon Ave. | 828-254-1281 | Beer, pizza, and $3 movies… need we say more? Showtimes here.

25 MORE IDEAS

THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by Laura.

Editor’s pick: Did you see the video we posted on our Instagram page featuring these local bears? Fun fact: these furry friends walked right past my house last week — until my barking dog scared them away.

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? Treat your shelf to books written by local authors, here.

Connect with us.

Editorial: Laura Hackett, Brook Bolen, Sarah Leonhardt, Erin McPherson, Ashlea Hearn, Emily Shea | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

Sales: Helen Purnell | Advertise with us.

Content marked with an * was created in partnership with 6AM City’s advertising partners. Paid content helps keep this newsletter free. 6AM City may also receive a commission on purchases made through affiliate links in this newsletter.

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