source: Advantage West July 2006 Newsletter

By Advantage West North Carolina
published: July 14, 2006

AdvantageWest is working with officials from Transylvania County, The Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute (PARI), The Education & Research Consortium of the Western Carolinas and others on pursuing new commercial applications for PARI, a former NASA facility and tremendous economic asset for the region.

Above: (left to right) ERC Broadband Executive Director Hunter Goosmann, Transylvania County Economic Development Director Mark Burrows, PARI Founder Don Cline, and AdvantageWest CEO Dale Carroll on a recent tour of the PARI facility outside of Rosman, N.C.

Recently, officials toured the facility with a confidential client who evaluated the potential of the site for a commercial application. AdvantageWest CEO Dale Carroll said that the site has potential to create jobs in a number of industries. "PARI houses a number of unique radio and optical telescopes and other measuring devices that have potential for commercial applications that are compatible with their educational and scientific missions," Carroll said. We’re pleased that the private sector is taking a look at the opportunities in western North Carolina for high-tech data transmission and storage, as well as satellite tracking activities."

source: Asheville Citizen Times

By This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
STAFF WRITER
published: April 24, 2006 2:05 pm

ASHEVILLE — The jobs of Asheville’s future might not be found in factories, but in labs or design studios, on stage and out on the Internet, in doctor’s offices and acupuncture clinics.

Instead of hunting for a large manufacturer to import hundreds of jobs, Asheville and Buncobme County leaders are looking at ways to nurture a homegrown economy that won’t leave for cheaper wages overseas.

About 75 people gathered at UNC Asheville Monday for an update on the Hub Project, the new economic development strategy that seeks to build on the region’s assets in arts, crafts, a growing weather industry, wellness and rejuvenation as well as the standbys of manufacturing and tourism, and the hospitality industry.

“You won’t see an command and control structure, but more people collaborating together,“ explained County Manager Wanda Greene.

Read more in tomorrow's Citizen-Times. Contact Dale Neal at 828-232-5970 or via e-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it