More of what’s going around:
–Hot Bike magazine on Tuesday announced details about its 2017 GEICO Motorcycle Hot Bike Tour, a five-day, five-city, 1,000-mile journey that will begin in Asheville on Sept. 7. The announcement was made at the Renaissance Hotel in downtown Asheville. Spokesmen for the California-based magazine, which has been holding the tour around the U.S. for the past four years, said the tour drew a total of 30,000 to its events last year. About 600 riders made the full tour last year, according to Corey Eastman, director of consumer events for the magazine. The event in Asheville will be held in the Renaissance Hotel parking lot and nearby Pack Square Park. It will include vendors and music, Eastman said. Stephanie Brown, executive director of the Asheville Convention and Visitors Bureau, said the event puts “fuel in the gas tank of the economic engine of our community” as she welcomed tour officials.
-The City of Asheville is seeking submittals from qualified developers to develop a city-owned parcel located at 338 Hilliard Avenue, according to a press release. The property is currently in use, but will be vacated by the City’s Parks Maintenance Facility by Jan. 1, 2017. Here’s more:
The City is making this site available for a development of affordable multifamily rental housing. The Asheville City Council has made expanding the supply of affordable housing a key element in its Strategic Operating Plan. Asheville has a serious affordable housing supply deficit, according to the 2015 Asheville Regional Housing Needs Assessment and Market Study.
–The city of Asheville has posted a number of items that are up for auction on its AshevilleBids page on Twitter. They include everything from a Chevy Tahoe to a tire balancer, and more.
-Here are details about a local casting call on Wednesday:
Local photographer and director Rob Adamo will be shooting a print campaign for Winston the first week of June. Shoot dates are June 2, 3, 4 & 5.
Our extras will be on set all day and will be paid $200
As part of our casting we need to cast some extras that fit the following brief:
We’re looking for authentic bikers who can bring their own bike. Ideally we need Harley choppers or similar the extras talent must be at least 25 years old, ID required. Max age is 40
The Winston casting is on Wednesday evening at 6pm. Anyone who is interested should meet us at:
257 Short Coxe Avenue
Asheville NC 28801
–Mountain BizWorks (MBW) has selected 17 small businesses in the region with strong potential for growth and job creation, their largest group yet, to participate in the fourth cohort of ScaleUp WNC, which begins Friday, June 10, according to a press release. More:
The initiative, made possible with funding from the U.S. Small Business Administration, provides local entrepreneurs with intensive growth strategy development, mentorship, access-to-capital support, and a rich network of peer business owners. This is the final cohort to meet in 2016, but interested CEOs can learn about the 2017 application cycle and other program events by signing up for the nonprofit’s e-newsletter.
Cohort 3 concluded the growth-planning phase of the program earlier this month and are now working to achieve their goals. Many have obtained the loan capital needed to execute their expansion plans.
“Now that they’ve taken the critical time to work on their business and not just in their business, these companies have quickly positioned themselves for impressive growth,” says Matt Raker, director of community investments and impact. He’s confident the same will hold true for Cohort 4.
The 2016 ScaleUp WNC Cohort 4 participating businesses are: Addison Farms Vineyard (Leicester), ADORAtherapy (Asheville), All American Food Fights (Asheville), Big Boom Design (Asheville), Blue Ridge Solutions (Asheville), Brewed for Her Ledger (Asheville), Bright Star Touring Theatre (Arden), DuinoKit (Whittier), Duncan & York (Asheville), Elements (Asheville), JB Media Institute (Asheville), Jennythreads (Asheville), Jukebox Junction & Soda Shoppe (Canton), The Sunset Motel (Brevard), Smoky Mountain Cabin Builders (Bryson City), and Sunburst Chef and Farmer (Asheville).
“Collectively, the businesses in this new cohort provide more than 100 jobs across five WNC counties,” notes Raker. “And half of the businesses are women-owned.”
Cohort 4 will run through September, after which the public will be invited to a Demo Day to meet members of Cohorts 2-4. More information about the program can be found at scaleupwnc.com.