Tag Archives: North Carolina

Two properties conserved along Blue Ridge Parkway

Published in Asheville Attractions, Blue Ridge Parkway, North Carolina News on February 24, 2014

English: Black Balsam Knob as seen at sunrise ...

Raleigh, N.C. – The Conservation Trust for North Carolina (CTNC) purchased a 123-acre property that adjoins the Blue Ridge Parkway between mileposts 446 and 450 in Jackson County. The land, made up of three smaller tracts, contains a significant section of Woodfin Creek upstream of the Woodfin Cascades. It also borders the Mountains-to-Sea Trail which hikers can access directly off the Parkway near Woodfin Cascades Overlook. It adjoins a 31-acre property on Bear Creek which CTNC conserved in May 2013.

The property rises to 6,000-feet elevation, hosts a healthy population of native spruce, and lies completely within the Mount Lyn Lowry/Campbell Creek Significant Natural Heritage Area as designated by the NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources. The property is part of a growing area of contiguous, protected land that is intended to become the Waterrock Knob/Plott-Balsams Park along the Parkway.

CTNC also purchased a 54-acre property at milepost 440 on the Blue Ridge Parkway near Waynesville in

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GE Aviation Expansion Highlighted in Site Selection Magazine

Published in Asheville Local News, North Carolina News on February 24, 2014

Site Selection Magazine- September 2013

Mark Arend

Sometimes A State Really Does Have the Best Work Force

GEnx LH 747-8

GE Aviation picks an underdog location for its ceramic matrix composite plant, lifting the fortunes of four Tar Heel communities, not just one.

Talk about a vote of confidence. GE Aviation is investing nearly $200 million in four North Carolina sites primarily because of the state’s work force.

One of the locations — Asheville — will be home to a new, $125-million plant for producing Ceramic Matrix Composite (CMC) components for the next-gen LEAP commercial aircraft engines being developed by CFM, a joint venture of GE Aviation and French aerospace concern Snecma. Composites are used routinely in aircraft manufacturing, but CMC is the first composite being used in the hot section, or core, of the engine. GE will produce a stationary component called a turbine shroud initially. Less air is required to cool the part, so more air is applied to propulsion, making the engine more efficient. More CMC components will follow.

Meanwhile, GE Aviation is also investing

Article source: http://www.ashevillechamber.org/economic-development/announcements-and-press-releases/ge-aviation-expansion-highlighted-site-selecti If you need a cheap air ticket, hotel or rental car please visit http://www.airticket.com

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Asheville welcomes 27th Arts & Crafts Conference

Published in Asheville Attractions, Asheville Local News on February 24, 2014

ASHEVILLE — Fairview’s Bruce Johnson is nationally known as the spokesman for Minwax furniture refinishing products. Locally, he’s highly visible as the organizer of this weekend’s Arts and Crafts Conference that showcases Mission-style furniture and brings several thousand visitors to the Omni Grove Park Inn each February.

But who knew that this fine furniture man once committed a youthful act of family furniture disrespect?

Growing up in Illinois, the teenage Bruce covered the lid of his father’s Arts and Crafts drop front desk with decals of his favorite baseball teams, ruining the finish.

“Years later I retrieved it from my parents’ attic and carefully restored it,” Johnson said earlier this week. Seven moves and four decades later, “it sits right here in my office,” he said, “a daily reminder of how important it is to save and restore our family heirlooms for future generations.”

Thinking historically

As this year’s Arts and Crafts Conference gets underway Friday, Johnson is also thinking historically. “In 1988, I started a three-day conference, thinking it was a one year deal,” he said, “and lo and behold, here we are 27 years later.”

That first effort drew 300

Article source: http://www.blackmountainnews.com/article/20140219/NEWS/302190035/Asheville-welcomes-27th-Arts-Crafts-Conference If you need a cheap air ticket, hotel or rental car please visit http://www.airticket.com

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Businesses are worried spill will hurt them

Published in Asheville Local News, North Carolina News on February 24, 2014


EDEN — Ever since thousands of tons of coal ash spilled into the Dan River from Duke Energy’s closed Dan River Steam Station, concerns have ranged from the quality of drinking water for Danville, Va., residents to the spill’s effect on fish and other wildlife.




Now, businesses that offer tubing and other water excursions along the Dan River are worrying that the spill — and the negative publicity surrounding it — will affect tourism.


For many, it may take months before it’s known what, if any, effect the spill will have on river-based businesses.

But some said they are seeing an impact now.

David Hoskins, who runs

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Blue Ridge Parkway open through Asheville today

Published in Asheville Attractions, Blue Ridge Parkway on February 19, 2014

After last week’s snowstorm of epic proportions inthe Asheville area, tThe Blue Ridge Parkway was closed for much of its stretch through North Carolina. But with the rapidly warming weather, a short stretch through the Asheville corridor is open today, Tuesday, Feb. 18.

Most of the Blue Ridge Parkway is closed today.

Most of the Blue Ridge Parkway is closed today.

The rest of the parkway, though, in North Carolina is closed for snow, ice, and dangerous road conditions.

The parkway is open at Mileposts 389 at Hendersonville Road/U.S. 25 in South Asheville, through U.S. 74 near the Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Center, up to MP 382 at U.S. 70/Tunnel Road at the Folk Art Center, which are both open today. This is where the parkway is closed, though.

In places where the parkway is gated, you can park off to the side, and access the parkway in most places by foot to walk, hike, snowshoe, cross-country ski, walk the dog or bicycle.

For more up to date road information on the parkway, visit www.nps.gov/blri or call the parkway visitor center at 828-298-5330.

Article source: http://blogs2.citizen-times.com/outdoors/2014/02/18/blue-ridge-parkway-open-through-asheville-today/ If you need a cheap air ticket, hotel or rental car please visit http://www.airticket.com

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GE Aviation Breaks Ground on $126 Million Facility in Asheville

Published in Asheville Local News, North Carolina News on February 18, 2014


Foto do centro da cidade, tirada em uma casa n...

ASHEVILLE, N.C.– In conjunction with the Economic Development Coalition for Asheville-Buncombe County (EDC), GE Aviation broke ground on a new $126 million facility that will revolutionize jet propulsion on Thursday, November 14. This substantial investment will lead the way for new technology, design and materials that will make GE jet engines the industry standard for efficiency, while simultaneously reducing emissions.


“GE Aviation’s new factory in Buncombe County is a major endorsement of our local manufacturing talent.  This groundbreaking technology is the most sophisticated and proprietary ever entrusted to our region by such a prominent global corporation.  It should put Asheville at the top of the list for any company with demanding manufacturing needs, especially those with green attributes.”


Asheville’s economy is vibrant – since January of 2009 the EDC for Asheville-Buncombe County has announced 34 projects, from both recruitment and expansion efforts, bringing 2,700 new

Article source: http://www.ashevillechamber.org/economic-development/announcements-and-press-releases/ge-aviation-breaks-ground-126-million-facility If you need a cheap air ticket, hotel or rental car please visit http://www.airticket.com

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N.C. Economic Development Board Releases Strategic Plan

Published in North Carolina News on February 18, 2014

DetailsPublished on Wednesday, 05 February 2014 23:47 Written by Super User

RALEIGH, N.C. : January 24, 2014 – The North Carolina Economic Development Board approved a 10-year strategic plan today that is designed to serve as a guide for economic growth and activities across the state.
“I want to thank John Lassiter, Jim Whitehurst and the rest of the Economic Development Board members for their hard work,” said Governor Pat McCrory. “I asked
the board to come up with a strategic plan that will direct our efforts at the state level and enable our state and local leaders to coordinate efforts to create jobs and improve the lives of all North Carolinians.  We need to make the best use of our economic development resources as we continue our Carolina Comeback.”
The Economic Development Board has been meeting since July 2013 in various work groups to develop the strategic plan.   In addition, N.C. Commerce Secretary Decker conducted a Listening Tour across the state and gathered input from more than 2,000 economic development professionals, business leaders and citizens through surveys and town meetings.
‘What’s presented

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