Calendar of Events
Upcoming events and things to do in Asheville, NC. Below is a list of events for festivals, concerts, art exhibitions, group meetups and more.
Interested in adding an event to our calendar? Please click the green “Post Your Event” button below.
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Individuals, groups, and businesses are invited to honor a loved one or show your commitment to environmental stewardship by sponsoring a tree for the Sand Hill community orchard. This April, join others from the community in celebrating Arbor Day by helping GreenWorks plant additional native fruit trees in the space. Each year, the community orchard provides fresh fruit for local food pantries, and access to learning and volunteering opportunities.
If your family or business is interested in sponsoring a tree for our April 26th Arbor Day event, please call us at 828-254-1776 to learn more.
Liberation Tools is a cooperative subset of the 501c3 nonprofit Soul & Soil Project based in the unceded Tsalagi (Cherokee) territory of Western North Carolina.
Our mission is to build a collective that sustainably and skillfully crafts quality tools used for growing food, and freely distributes them to Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. To support these efforts, we sell these tools for twice the cost of producing one, thereby allowing people with accumulated wealth to access high quality tools by also paying for an identical tool to be sent to a BIPOC land steward.
- Free admission
- Free parking
- Free workshops
The National Small Business Week 2-day virtual summit is happening Tuesday, April 30 – Wednesday, May 1, 2024.
This year’s event will include educational presentations by experts, exhibit booths, free business resources, multiple peer-to-peer networking rooms, and expert business advice from SCORE mentors.
The event is free to attend for both established and aspiring business owners. However, you must first register to gain entry.
See the schedule of events below, or download a PDF version of the schedule.
Tuesday, April 30
| Time (ET) | Session | Cosponsored by |
|---|---|---|
| 10:00 a.m. | Virtual Doors Open! Explore the Environment | |
| 11:00 a.m. – 11:30 p.m. | Accelerate Business Growth with the Help of AI | Visa |
| 11:45 p.m. – 12:45 p.m. | Securing Your Small Business in a Work-From-Anywhere World | T-Mobile |
| 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. | Learn About the No-Cost SBA T.H.R.I.V.E Educational Program | SBA |
| 2:15 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. | Unlock AI’s Potential for Your Small Business | Grow with Google |
| 2:40 p.m. – 3:40 p.m. | Building a Foundation for Online Marketing Success: Review, Plan, and Execute | Constant Contact |
| 3:55 p.m. – 4:55 p.m. | Leveraging E-Commerce to Scale Your Business | Amazon |
| 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. | How to Start a Food Truck Business: A Step-by-Step Guide | SCORE |
Wednesday, May 1
| Time (ET) | Session | Cosponsored by |
|---|---|---|
| 10:00 a.m. | Virtual Doors Open! Explore the Environment | |
| 11:00 a.m. – 11:40 p.m. | 8 Practical Skills to Run a Successful Business | Visa |
| 11:45 p.m. – 12:45 p.m. | Small Business Strategies for Collaboration and Productivity | T-Mobile |
| 12:50 p.m. – 1:50 p.m. | Navigating Your Cash Flow | Chase for Business |
| 1:55 p.m. – 2:55 p.m. | How to Turn Your Side Hustle into a Business & Securing Your First Loan | NerdWallet |
| 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. | Future of Commerce 2024 | Square |
| 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. | My SBA | SBA |
| 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. | How to Write a Grant Proposal for Your Business | SCORE |
Networking rooms
Between sessions, make sure you check out our other rooms:
- Exhibit hall: Chat with our cosponsors and pick up free resources for your business.
- Mentoring hall: Get answers to your business questions from one of our experienced mentors.
- Networking lounge: Make new connections with fellow aspiring entrepreneurs and small business owners.
- Inspiration hall: View small business success stories and get inspired to achieve greatness.
-
At the Asheville Chamber, we’ll be celebrating Small Businesses during the week of May 13 – May 17 with events like the Sky High Growth Awards, Smart Series and a Surprise Patrol of local goodies to small businesses. We’ll also be celebrating small businesses throughout the month of May on social media and here in our newsletter! Support the Downtown Business Improvement District! The proposed Business Improvement District (BID) in Downtown Asheville aims to enhance the community’s vitality and functionality. With a focus on safe and clean services, such as a hospitality and safety ambassador program, the BID will address pressing issues while fostering a vibrant downtown environment. Learn more about the BID and sign the petition at downtownashevillebid.com.
Anyone can sign the bid whether you work, live or simply enjoy Downtown Asheville. By coming together to advocate for the BID’s establishment, we can ensure Downtown Asheville continues to thrive as a dynamic economic and cultural hub!
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Spring has sprung, and at the YWCA that means that our talented Nutrition team is cooking up new ways to serve fresh, in-season fruits and vegetables to the children in our Early Learning and Empowerment Child Care programs. We are so grateful to be partnering with the wonderful volunteers who operate Grace Covenant’s Community Garden to receive produce grown specifically for our kitchen! The YWCA has been partnering with Grace Covenant for three years, and we have received over 1000 pounds of healthy, local produce from the garden.
YWCA Nutrition Specialist Melinda Aponte works hard to make the most of the bounty from Grace Covenant, and she also nurtures our own YWCA garden to teach kiddos in our childcare programs healthy habits and get them in the garden. Love the idea of helping to feed children fresh, healthy foods? Volunteer with the YWCA Nutrition team this spring and summer to help out in the YW garden space.
The National Small Business Week 2-day virtual summit is happening Tuesday, April 30 – Wednesday, May 1, 2024.
This year’s event will include educational presentations by experts, exhibit booths, free business resources, multiple peer-to-peer networking rooms, and expert business advice from SCORE mentors.
The event is free to attend for both established and aspiring business owners. However, you must first register to gain entry.
See the schedule of events below, or download a PDF version of the schedule.
Tuesday, April 30
| Time (ET) | Session | Cosponsored by |
|---|---|---|
| 10:00 a.m. | Virtual Doors Open! Explore the Environment | |
| 11:00 a.m. – 11:30 p.m. | Accelerate Business Growth with the Help of AI | Visa |
| 11:45 p.m. – 12:45 p.m. | Securing Your Small Business in a Work-From-Anywhere World | T-Mobile |
| 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. | Learn About the No-Cost SBA T.H.R.I.V.E Educational Program | SBA |
| 2:15 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. | Unlock AI’s Potential for Your Small Business | Grow with Google |
| 2:40 p.m. – 3:40 p.m. | Building a Foundation for Online Marketing Success: Review, Plan, and Execute | Constant Contact |
| 3:55 p.m. – 4:55 p.m. | Leveraging E-Commerce to Scale Your Business | Amazon |
| 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. | How to Start a Food Truck Business: A Step-by-Step Guide | SCORE |
Wednesday, May 1
| Time (ET) | Session | Cosponsored by |
|---|---|---|
| 10:00 a.m. | Virtual Doors Open! Explore the Environment | |
| 11:00 a.m. – 11:40 p.m. | 8 Practical Skills to Run a Successful Business | Visa |
| 11:45 p.m. – 12:45 p.m. | Small Business Strategies for Collaboration and Productivity | T-Mobile |
| 12:50 p.m. – 1:50 p.m. | Navigating Your Cash Flow | Chase for Business |
| 1:55 p.m. – 2:55 p.m. | How to Turn Your Side Hustle into a Business & Securing Your First Loan | NerdWallet |
| 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. | Future of Commerce 2024 | Square |
| 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. | My SBA | SBA |
| 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. | How to Write a Grant Proposal for Your Business | SCORE |
Networking rooms
Between sessions, make sure you check out our other rooms:
- Exhibit hall: Chat with our cosponsors and pick up free resources for your business.
- Mentoring hall: Get answers to your business questions from one of our experienced mentors.
- Networking lounge: Make new connections with fellow aspiring entrepreneurs and small business owners.
- Inspiration hall: View small business success stories and get inspired to achieve greatness.
-
At the Asheville Chamber, we’ll be celebrating Small Businesses during the week of May 13 – May 17 with events like the Sky High Growth Awards, Smart Series and a Surprise Patrol of local goodies to small businesses. We’ll also be celebrating small businesses throughout the month of May on social media and here in our newsletter! Support the Downtown Business Improvement District! The proposed Business Improvement District (BID) in Downtown Asheville aims to enhance the community’s vitality and functionality. With a focus on safe and clean services, such as a hospitality and safety ambassador program, the BID will address pressing issues while fostering a vibrant downtown environment. Learn more about the BID and sign the petition at downtownashevillebid.com.
Anyone can sign the bid whether you work, live or simply enjoy Downtown Asheville. By coming together to advocate for the BID’s establishment, we can ensure Downtown Asheville continues to thrive as a dynamic economic and cultural hub!
Individuals, groups, and businesses are invited to honor a loved one or show your commitment to environmental stewardship by sponsoring a tree for the Sand Hill community orchard. This April, join others from the community in celebrating Arbor Day by helping GreenWorks plant additional native fruit trees in the space. Each year, the community orchard provides fresh fruit for local food pantries, and access to learning and volunteering opportunities.
If your family or business is interested in sponsoring a tree for our April 26th Arbor Day event, please call us at 828-254-1776 to learn more.
Liberation Tools is a cooperative subset of the 501c3 nonprofit Soul & Soil Project based in the unceded Tsalagi (Cherokee) territory of Western North Carolina.
Our mission is to build a collective that sustainably and skillfully crafts quality tools used for growing food, and freely distributes them to Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. To support these efforts, we sell these tools for twice the cost of producing one, thereby allowing people with accumulated wealth to access high quality tools by also paying for an identical tool to be sent to a BIPOC land steward.
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|
- Problem-solving, communication, and teamwork.
- Increasing fresh, locally grown produce in everyday living.
- Gaining confidence by exploring different ways to grow and prepare fresh produce.
- Creating and changing recipes and substituting ingredients.
- Learning how food and the environment affects the brain and body.
- Connecting to Core Curriculum and Essential Standards in math, reading, writing, science, health, and nutrition.
Celebrate the incredible women in your life by joining us for a distinctive and casual networking experience. Athena of Henderson County proudly presents this exclusive opportunity crafted to inspire and foster connections among women. There’s no entrance fee – simply bring your business cards and relish the chance to expand your network!
This quarter, let’s gather at Stuller Power Solutions, a local electric generator and Generac Authorized Dealer. Cheryl Stuller, a valued member of our EMPOWER Her Committee, and the Presenting Sponsor of our Empower Hours, will be hosting us. Join us for a delightful hour of connection, delicious food, and a celebration of our collective achievements!
The National Small Business Week 2-day virtual summit is happening Tuesday, April 30 – Wednesday, May 1, 2024.
This year’s event will include educational presentations by experts, exhibit booths, free business resources, multiple peer-to-peer networking rooms, and expert business advice from SCORE mentors.
The event is free to attend for both established and aspiring business owners. However, you must first register to gain entry.
See the schedule of events below, or download a PDF version of the schedule.
Tuesday, April 30
| Time (ET) | Session | Cosponsored by |
|---|---|---|
| 10:00 a.m. | Virtual Doors Open! Explore the Environment | |
| 11:00 a.m. – 11:30 p.m. | Accelerate Business Growth with the Help of AI | Visa |
| 11:45 p.m. – 12:45 p.m. | Securing Your Small Business in a Work-From-Anywhere World | T-Mobile |
| 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. | Learn About the No-Cost SBA T.H.R.I.V.E Educational Program | SBA |
| 2:15 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. | Unlock AI’s Potential for Your Small Business | Grow with Google |
| 2:40 p.m. – 3:40 p.m. | Building a Foundation for Online Marketing Success: Review, Plan, and Execute | Constant Contact |
| 3:55 p.m. – 4:55 p.m. | Leveraging E-Commerce to Scale Your Business | Amazon |
| 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. | How to Start a Food Truck Business: A Step-by-Step Guide | SCORE |
Wednesday, May 1
| Time (ET) | Session | Cosponsored by |
|---|---|---|
| 10:00 a.m. | Virtual Doors Open! Explore the Environment | |
| 11:00 a.m. – 11:40 p.m. | 8 Practical Skills to Run a Successful Business | Visa |
| 11:45 p.m. – 12:45 p.m. | Small Business Strategies for Collaboration and Productivity | T-Mobile |
| 12:50 p.m. – 1:50 p.m. | Navigating Your Cash Flow | Chase for Business |
| 1:55 p.m. – 2:55 p.m. | How to Turn Your Side Hustle into a Business & Securing Your First Loan | NerdWallet |
| 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. | Future of Commerce 2024 | Square |
| 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. | My SBA | SBA |
| 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. | How to Write a Grant Proposal for Your Business | SCORE |
Networking rooms
Between sessions, make sure you check out our other rooms:
- Exhibit hall: Chat with our cosponsors and pick up free resources for your business.
- Mentoring hall: Get answers to your business questions from one of our experienced mentors.
- Networking lounge: Make new connections with fellow aspiring entrepreneurs and small business owners.
- Inspiration hall: View small business success stories and get inspired to achieve greatness.
-
At the Asheville Chamber, we’ll be celebrating Small Businesses during the week of May 13 – May 17 with events like the Sky High Growth Awards, Smart Series and a Surprise Patrol of local goodies to small businesses. We’ll also be celebrating small businesses throughout the month of May on social media and here in our newsletter! Support the Downtown Business Improvement District! The proposed Business Improvement District (BID) in Downtown Asheville aims to enhance the community’s vitality and functionality. With a focus on safe and clean services, such as a hospitality and safety ambassador program, the BID will address pressing issues while fostering a vibrant downtown environment. Learn more about the BID and sign the petition at downtownashevillebid.com.
Anyone can sign the bid whether you work, live or simply enjoy Downtown Asheville. By coming together to advocate for the BID’s establishment, we can ensure Downtown Asheville continues to thrive as a dynamic economic and cultural hub!
Spring has sprung, and at the YWCA that means that our talented Nutrition team is cooking up new ways to serve fresh, in-season fruits and vegetables to the children in our Early Learning and Empowerment Child Care programs. We are so grateful to be partnering with the wonderful volunteers who operate Grace Covenant’s Community Garden to receive produce grown specifically for our kitchen! The YWCA has been partnering with Grace Covenant for three years, and we have received over 1000 pounds of healthy, local produce from the garden.
YWCA Nutrition Specialist Melinda Aponte works hard to make the most of the bounty from Grace Covenant, and she also nurtures our own YWCA garden to teach kiddos in our childcare programs healthy habits and get them in the garden. Love the idea of helping to feed children fresh, healthy foods? Volunteer with the YWCA Nutrition team this spring and summer to help out in the YW garden space.
As part of the National Small Business Week (NSBW), the U.S. Small Business Administration and SCORE will cohost the NSBW Virtual Summit that includes a variety of educational webinars, exhibit booths, free business resources, multiple peer-to-peer networking rooms and expert business advice from SCORE mentors.
The 2-day event is free to attend, but registration is required to access all the value the virtual event has to offer:
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Action-driven content that can be applied to your business immediately.
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Expert business advice to help you navigate your business journey.
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Downloadable business resources to collect for future use.
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Networking opportunities to connect with business owners from across the country.
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|
- Problem-solving, communication, and teamwork.
- Increasing fresh, locally grown produce in everyday living.
- Gaining confidence by exploring different ways to grow and prepare fresh produce.
- Creating and changing recipes and substituting ingredients.
- Learning how food and the environment affects the brain and body.
- Connecting to Core Curriculum and Essential Standards in math, reading, writing, science, health, and nutrition.
The National Small Business Week 2-day virtual summit is happening Tuesday, April 30 – Wednesday, May 1, 2024.
This year’s event will include educational presentations by experts, exhibit booths, free business resources, multiple peer-to-peer networking rooms, and expert business advice from SCORE mentors.
The event is free to attend for both established and aspiring business owners. However, you must first register to gain entry.
See the schedule of events below, or download a PDF version of the schedule.
Tuesday, April 30
| Time (ET) | Session | Cosponsored by |
|---|---|---|
| 10:00 a.m. | Virtual Doors Open! Explore the Environment | |
| 11:00 a.m. – 11:30 p.m. | Accelerate Business Growth with the Help of AI | Visa |
| 11:45 p.m. – 12:45 p.m. | Securing Your Small Business in a Work-From-Anywhere World | T-Mobile |
| 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. | Learn About the No-Cost SBA T.H.R.I.V.E Educational Program | SBA |
| 2:15 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. | Unlock AI’s Potential for Your Small Business | Grow with Google |
| 2:40 p.m. – 3:40 p.m. | Building a Foundation for Online Marketing Success: Review, Plan, and Execute | Constant Contact |
| 3:55 p.m. – 4:55 p.m. | Leveraging E-Commerce to Scale Your Business | Amazon |
| 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. | How to Start a Food Truck Business: A Step-by-Step Guide | SCORE |
Wednesday, May 1
| Time (ET) | Session | Cosponsored by |
|---|---|---|
| 10:00 a.m. | Virtual Doors Open! Explore the Environment | |
| 11:00 a.m. – 11:40 p.m. | 8 Practical Skills to Run a Successful Business | Visa |
| 11:45 p.m. – 12:45 p.m. | Small Business Strategies for Collaboration and Productivity | T-Mobile |
| 12:50 p.m. – 1:50 p.m. | Navigating Your Cash Flow | Chase for Business |
| 1:55 p.m. – 2:55 p.m. | How to Turn Your Side Hustle into a Business & Securing Your First Loan | NerdWallet |
| 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. | Future of Commerce 2024 | Square |
| 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. | My SBA | SBA |
| 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. | How to Write a Grant Proposal for Your Business | SCORE |
Networking rooms
Between sessions, make sure you check out our other rooms:
- Exhibit hall: Chat with our cosponsors and pick up free resources for your business.
- Mentoring hall: Get answers to your business questions from one of our experienced mentors.
- Networking lounge: Make new connections with fellow aspiring entrepreneurs and small business owners.
- Inspiration hall: View small business success stories and get inspired to achieve greatness.
-
At the Asheville Chamber, we’ll be celebrating Small Businesses during the week of May 13 – May 17 with events like the Sky High Growth Awards, Smart Series and a Surprise Patrol of local goodies to small businesses. We’ll also be celebrating small businesses throughout the month of May on social media and here in our newsletter! Support the Downtown Business Improvement District! The proposed Business Improvement District (BID) in Downtown Asheville aims to enhance the community’s vitality and functionality. With a focus on safe and clean services, such as a hospitality and safety ambassador program, the BID will address pressing issues while fostering a vibrant downtown environment. Learn more about the BID and sign the petition at downtownashevillebid.com.
Anyone can sign the bid whether you work, live or simply enjoy Downtown Asheville. By coming together to advocate for the BID’s establishment, we can ensure Downtown Asheville continues to thrive as a dynamic economic and cultural hub!
Individuals, groups, and businesses are invited to honor a loved one or show your commitment to environmental stewardship by sponsoring a tree for the Sand Hill community orchard. This April, join others from the community in celebrating Arbor Day by helping GreenWorks plant additional native fruit trees in the space. Each year, the community orchard provides fresh fruit for local food pantries, and access to learning and volunteering opportunities.
If your family or business is interested in sponsoring a tree for our April 26th Arbor Day event, please call us at 828-254-1776 to learn more.
Liberation Tools is a cooperative subset of the 501c3 nonprofit Soul & Soil Project based in the unceded Tsalagi (Cherokee) territory of Western North Carolina.
Our mission is to build a collective that sustainably and skillfully crafts quality tools used for growing food, and freely distributes them to Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. To support these efforts, we sell these tools for twice the cost of producing one, thereby allowing people with accumulated wealth to access high quality tools by also paying for an identical tool to be sent to a BIPOC land steward.
Henderson County Extension Agent and host of the Gardening in the Mountains Radio Show Steve Pettis will discuss the many flowers that grow in the Spring time in the forests of Western North Carolina. He will discuss some of the most common spring ephemeral plants’ biology, their pollinators and some of the interesting history of these special plants as well as mosses and ferns.
Want to learn more about mosses and ferns? What are the most common spring ephemeral plants?, their pollinators and some of the interesting history of these special plants. Henderson County Extension Agent and host of the Gardening in the Mountains Radio Show Steve Pettis will discuss the many flowers that grow in the Spring time in the forests of Western North Carolina.
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|
- Problem-solving, communication, and teamwork.
- Increasing fresh, locally grown produce in everyday living.
- Gaining confidence by exploring different ways to grow and prepare fresh produce.
- Creating and changing recipes and substituting ingredients.
- Learning how food and the environment affects the brain and body.
- Connecting to Core Curriculum and Essential Standards in math, reading, writing, science, health, and nutrition.
Come join us for Business After Hours at Union Transfer & Storage!
Union Transfer and Storage and GoMinis Portable Storage invite you to Business After Hours. As local, family-owned businesses operating in Western NC and Eastern TN for nearly 100 years, they are thrilled to host you on May 2nd. Please join them for an evening of games, live music, food and beer from Oskar Blues Brewery. They look forward to connecting with you and hearing how we can best serve you in our community.
Feel free to bring a gift to be raffled off as door prizes towards the end of the evening. Bring your business cards for networking and a chance to win prizes!
The National Small Business Week 2-day virtual summit is happening Tuesday, April 30 – Wednesday, May 1, 2024.
This year’s event will include educational presentations by experts, exhibit booths, free business resources, multiple peer-to-peer networking rooms, and expert business advice from SCORE mentors.
The event is free to attend for both established and aspiring business owners. However, you must first register to gain entry.
See the schedule of events below, or download a PDF version of the schedule.
Tuesday, April 30
| Time (ET) | Session | Cosponsored by |
|---|---|---|
| 10:00 a.m. | Virtual Doors Open! Explore the Environment | |
| 11:00 a.m. – 11:30 p.m. | Accelerate Business Growth with the Help of AI | Visa |
| 11:45 p.m. – 12:45 p.m. | Securing Your Small Business in a Work-From-Anywhere World | T-Mobile |
| 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. | Learn About the No-Cost SBA T.H.R.I.V.E Educational Program | SBA |
| 2:15 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. | Unlock AI’s Potential for Your Small Business | Grow with Google |
| 2:40 p.m. – 3:40 p.m. | Building a Foundation for Online Marketing Success: Review, Plan, and Execute | Constant Contact |
| 3:55 p.m. – 4:55 p.m. | Leveraging E-Commerce to Scale Your Business | Amazon |
| 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. | How to Start a Food Truck Business: A Step-by-Step Guide | SCORE |
Wednesday, May 1
| Time (ET) | Session | Cosponsored by |
|---|---|---|
| 10:00 a.m. | Virtual Doors Open! Explore the Environment | |
| 11:00 a.m. – 11:40 p.m. | 8 Practical Skills to Run a Successful Business | Visa |
| 11:45 p.m. – 12:45 p.m. | Small Business Strategies for Collaboration and Productivity | T-Mobile |
| 12:50 p.m. – 1:50 p.m. | Navigating Your Cash Flow | Chase for Business |
| 1:55 p.m. – 2:55 p.m. | How to Turn Your Side Hustle into a Business & Securing Your First Loan | NerdWallet |
| 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. | Future of Commerce 2024 | Square |
| 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. | My SBA | SBA |
| 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. | How to Write a Grant Proposal for Your Business | SCORE |
Networking rooms
Between sessions, make sure you check out our other rooms:
- Exhibit hall: Chat with our cosponsors and pick up free resources for your business.
- Mentoring hall: Get answers to your business questions from one of our experienced mentors.
- Networking lounge: Make new connections with fellow aspiring entrepreneurs and small business owners.
- Inspiration hall: View small business success stories and get inspired to achieve greatness.
-
At the Asheville Chamber, we’ll be celebrating Small Businesses during the week of May 13 – May 17 with events like the Sky High Growth Awards, Smart Series and a Surprise Patrol of local goodies to small businesses. We’ll also be celebrating small businesses throughout the month of May on social media and here in our newsletter! Support the Downtown Business Improvement District! The proposed Business Improvement District (BID) in Downtown Asheville aims to enhance the community’s vitality and functionality. With a focus on safe and clean services, such as a hospitality and safety ambassador program, the BID will address pressing issues while fostering a vibrant downtown environment. Learn more about the BID and sign the petition at downtownashevillebid.com.
Anyone can sign the bid whether you work, live or simply enjoy Downtown Asheville. By coming together to advocate for the BID’s establishment, we can ensure Downtown Asheville continues to thrive as a dynamic economic and cultural hub!
Spring has sprung, and at the YWCA that means that our talented Nutrition team is cooking up new ways to serve fresh, in-season fruits and vegetables to the children in our Early Learning and Empowerment Child Care programs. We are so grateful to be partnering with the wonderful volunteers who operate Grace Covenant’s Community Garden to receive produce grown specifically for our kitchen! The YWCA has been partnering with Grace Covenant for three years, and we have received over 1000 pounds of healthy, local produce from the garden.
YWCA Nutrition Specialist Melinda Aponte works hard to make the most of the bounty from Grace Covenant, and she also nurtures our own YWCA garden to teach kiddos in our childcare programs healthy habits and get them in the garden. Love the idea of helping to feed children fresh, healthy foods? Volunteer with the YWCA Nutrition team this spring and summer to help out in the YW garden space.
The Chamber Challenge is designed to promote community wellness through friendly competition between businesses in the Asheville area. Encourage your co-workers, family and friends to participate. Whether you walk every step or sprint to the finish, we know you’re up to the challenge!
The National Small Business Week 2-day virtual summit is happening Tuesday, April 30 – Wednesday, May 1, 2024.
This year’s event will include educational presentations by experts, exhibit booths, free business resources, multiple peer-to-peer networking rooms, and expert business advice from SCORE mentors.
The event is free to attend for both established and aspiring business owners. However, you must first register to gain entry.
See the schedule of events below, or download a PDF version of the schedule.
Tuesday, April 30
| Time (ET) | Session | Cosponsored by |
|---|---|---|
| 10:00 a.m. | Virtual Doors Open! Explore the Environment | |
| 11:00 a.m. – 11:30 p.m. | Accelerate Business Growth with the Help of AI | Visa |
| 11:45 p.m. – 12:45 p.m. | Securing Your Small Business in a Work-From-Anywhere World | T-Mobile |
| 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. | Learn About the No-Cost SBA T.H.R.I.V.E Educational Program | SBA |
| 2:15 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. | Unlock AI’s Potential for Your Small Business | Grow with Google |
| 2:40 p.m. – 3:40 p.m. | Building a Foundation for Online Marketing Success: Review, Plan, and Execute | Constant Contact |
| 3:55 p.m. – 4:55 p.m. | Leveraging E-Commerce to Scale Your Business | Amazon |
| 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. | How to Start a Food Truck Business: A Step-by-Step Guide | SCORE |
Wednesday, May 1
| Time (ET) | Session | Cosponsored by |
|---|---|---|
| 10:00 a.m. | Virtual Doors Open! Explore the Environment | |
| 11:00 a.m. – 11:40 p.m. | 8 Practical Skills to Run a Successful Business | Visa |
| 11:45 p.m. – 12:45 p.m. | Small Business Strategies for Collaboration and Productivity | T-Mobile |
| 12:50 p.m. – 1:50 p.m. | Navigating Your Cash Flow | Chase for Business |
| 1:55 p.m. – 2:55 p.m. | How to Turn Your Side Hustle into a Business & Securing Your First Loan | NerdWallet |
| 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. | Future of Commerce 2024 | Square |
| 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. | My SBA | SBA |
| 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. | How to Write a Grant Proposal for Your Business | SCORE |
Networking rooms
Between sessions, make sure you check out our other rooms:
- Exhibit hall: Chat with our cosponsors and pick up free resources for your business.
- Mentoring hall: Get answers to your business questions from one of our experienced mentors.
- Networking lounge: Make new connections with fellow aspiring entrepreneurs and small business owners.
- Inspiration hall: View small business success stories and get inspired to achieve greatness.
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At the Asheville Chamber, we’ll be celebrating Small Businesses during the week of May 13 – May 17 with events like the Sky High Growth Awards, Smart Series and a Surprise Patrol of local goodies to small businesses. We’ll also be celebrating small businesses throughout the month of May on social media and here in our newsletter! Support the Downtown Business Improvement District! The proposed Business Improvement District (BID) in Downtown Asheville aims to enhance the community’s vitality and functionality. With a focus on safe and clean services, such as a hospitality and safety ambassador program, the BID will address pressing issues while fostering a vibrant downtown environment. Learn more about the BID and sign the petition at downtownashevillebid.com.
Anyone can sign the bid whether you work, live or simply enjoy Downtown Asheville. By coming together to advocate for the BID’s establishment, we can ensure Downtown Asheville continues to thrive as a dynamic economic and cultural hub!
Individuals, groups, and businesses are invited to honor a loved one or show your commitment to environmental stewardship by sponsoring a tree for the Sand Hill community orchard. This April, join others from the community in celebrating Arbor Day by helping GreenWorks plant additional native fruit trees in the space. Each year, the community orchard provides fresh fruit for local food pantries, and access to learning and volunteering opportunities.
If your family or business is interested in sponsoring a tree for our April 26th Arbor Day event, please call us at 828-254-1776 to learn more.
Looking for a chance to celebrate mom and make her a unique gift? Or are you wanting to learn a new skill? In this fun introductory class led by Judy Peacock, you will learn to make your own herbal self-care products including an oatmeal rose honey scrub, a rose clay mask, and herbal tea blend. It’s the perfect way to spend time with mom, or make something for yourself. Each participant will take home a honey scrub, a clay mask blend, and an herbal tranquil tea blend.
Liberation Tools is a cooperative subset of the 501c3 nonprofit Soul & Soil Project based in the unceded Tsalagi (Cherokee) territory of Western North Carolina.
Our mission is to build a collective that sustainably and skillfully crafts quality tools used for growing food, and freely distributes them to Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. To support these efforts, we sell these tools for twice the cost of producing one, thereby allowing people with accumulated wealth to access high quality tools by also paying for an identical tool to be sent to a BIPOC land steward.