Business Development
In Western North Carolina, we’re serious about growing clean energy businesses and are constantly expanding our clean energy business development resources. Whether you’re an entrepreneur looking for market analysis support, an existing business in need of growth capital, or a manufacturer looking to improve reduce your energy costs, we have the resources you need.
Business Development & Networks | Energy & Technical Assistance | Greening Your Business
Business Development & Networks
AdvantageGreen
AdvantageGreen, an initiative of AdvantageWest Economic Development Group, works to ensure that western North Carolina is a vibrant green business habitat™. In partnership with other programs of AdvantageWest including the Blue Ridge Entrepreneurial Council and the Advanced Manufacturing Initiative, the program helps green business get connected to partners, finance and other resources they need to be successful. You can start getting plugged into the WNC green economy by joining the AdvantageGreen online network at www.advantagegreenetwork.org
BioNetwork BioBusiness Center
The BioBusiness Center supports business development for start-up life science companies across North Carolina through local, regional and statewide partnerships and collaborations. Within the clean energy economy, the center focuses on support for biofuels, algae, and related enterprises.
Biz Boost
Biz Boost is a unique and proactive approach to workforce development that focuses on retaining existing jobs and supplements the traditional strategy of worker training and retraining. The program aims to help businesses retain jobs and accelerate their prospects for future growth by focusing additional resources of the Small Business and Technology Development Center (SBTDC) and leveraging partnerships to assist vulnerable firms.
Clean Vehicles Coalition
The Clean Vehicles Coalition is a partnership of private and public entities that has been working successfully for years to expand the use of alternative fuels and vehicles in western North Carolina. Through education, helping government and businesses access grants, and providing vital network support for local businesses, the Clean Vehicles Coalition has helped WNC be a leading adopter of biodiesel, CNG, electric vehicles and other clean transportation technologies. This is part of the WNC Clean Cities effort managed by Land of Sky Regional Council.
Mountain BizWorks
For over two decades, Mountain BizWorks has been in the hope business, the dream business, the opportunity business. Mountain BizWorks is an entrepreneurial, non-profit organization that operates with a double bottom line of social impact and financial viability — ensuring a permanent resource for the Western North Carolina region. The organization also manages an active green business network.
The Biofuels Center of North Carolina
The Biofuels Center of North Carolina was funded with a $5 million initial appropriation from the 2007 General Assembly. It is a private, nonprofit corporation headquartered on the 426-acre North Carolina Biofuels Campus in Oxford. It receives continuing funding from the General Assembly to implement North Carolina’s Strategic Plan for Biofuels Leadership and to help make the state more energy independent.
North Carolina Solar Center
The Solar Center economic development program began in 2006, as a natural extension to the work being done by the Solar Center since 1988. Leveraging the staff expertise across the entire scope of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies the ED Team seeks to engage business owners who are looking to start businesses or relocate to North Carolina.
North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association
Founded in 1978, The North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association is a non-profit membership organization of individuals, businesses, government and non-profits interested in sustainable energy. Active throughout the state, NCSEA works to ensure a sustainable future by promoting renewable energy and energy efficiency in North Carolina through education, public policy and economic development. NCSEA has been instrumental in moving the state towards a clean economy future, such as helping create the Renewable Energy Portfolio Standards.
SJF Advisory Services
SJF Advisory Services (SJFAS) is a nonprofit organization that provides assistance to and increases access to capital for entrepreneurial businesses in order to expand their positive community economic development and environmental outcomes. SJFAS works with hundreds of companies each year through one-on-one assistance, events, and publications focused on particular sectors and stages of growth.
Small Business Centers & Incubators
The NC Community Colleges operate various small business centers and incubators, many with clean technology focuses. For example, at AB Tech’s Small Business Incubator, you’ll find both the Global Institute for Sustainable Technologies as well as the Technology Commercialization Center, both excellent business development resources. The Blue Ridge Community College Small Business Center hosts the Henderson County Green Business Alliance as well as the Transylvania Green Business Alliance. Find your local Small Business Center here.
Small Business Technology Development Center
The Small Business and Technology Development Center (SBTDC) has been helping western North Carolina businesses grow and create new jobs since 1984. SBTDC specialists provide management counseling and educational services to small and mid-sized businesses throughout the region. Most SBTDC services are free of charge, and all SBTDC services are confidential. Over the past five years, SBTDC has consistently improved its expertise in green business development.
Southern Appalachian Sustainable Building Council
Serving the most western counties of North Carolina, Southern Appalachian Sustainable Building Council is unique in that it focuses on green building solutions for a largely rural area with no central town or city. It promotes green building as well are strong advocates for land use planning which helps to preserve the farms and natural areas that are central to their area’s heritage.
Western North Carolina Green Building Council
The Western North Carolina Green Building Council’s mission is to promote environmentally sustainable and health conscious building practices through community education. Through their efforts, including establishing the NC HealthyBuilt Homes Program and publishing the WNC Green Building Directory, WNCGBC has been a leader in helping WNC have one of the highest concentrations of green buildings of anywhere in the country.
Energy & Technical Assistance
Industrial Extension Service
The Industrial Extension Service, an arm of North Carolina State University, helps NC businesses stay abreast of the latest technologies and best practices in both engineering and business management. Their technical capabilities include lean enterprise, ISO, Six Sigma, GHG footprints, energy management, and much more. They are an essential resource for WNC clean energy technology manufacturers and enterprises.
Waste Reduction Partners
Do you need sound advice on ways to reduce your utility costs while meeting your sustainability goals? Waste Reduction Partners’ unique team of highly experienced, volunteer engineers and scientists helps WNC businesses identify savings in: energy usage, water usage, and solid waste recovery. WRP technical assistance is provided at no cost to their clients.
Greening Your Business
Haywood Chamber Green Business Initiative
Haywood County Chamber of Commerce’s unique approach to environmental stewardship in Haywood County has encouraged over ten area businesses to improve their green business practices. These businesses have set forth sustainable goals and associated strategies with measurable outcomes. Contact the Chamber to learn more about how the Green Business Initiative can help your business.
Watauga Green Business Plan
The Watauga Green Business Plan is a voluntary, market-driven program that: 1) Educates and certifies small businesses for their “green” practices 2) Reduces small businesses’ environmental impacts 3) Helps to build a sustainable community
