Western North Carolina Economic Development Group

Clusters of Innovation

AdvantageWest’s Vision Plan is focused on growing the Western North Carolina economy around ten clusters of innovation for which strong university and commercial capabilities and assets are already in place in the region. Clusters are concentrations of companies or industries which are connected by the markets they serve, the products they make, suppliers, trade associations, educational institutions and more.

AdvantageWest is leading efforts to further develop the infrastructure needed to cultivate these clusters, and the leaders of higher education institutions in the AdvantageWest region are committed to developing the necessary curricula, degree and certificate programs, policy seminars, executive education opportunities and R&D partnerships with businesses to fuel the clusters’ growth. See the Education section of this web site for more information.

Advanced Manufacturing
Arts, Crafts and Design
Communications and Information Technology
Environmental
Food
Healthcare
Life Sciences and Agribusiness
Recreation and Tourism
Retirement
Security

Advanced Manufacturing
Automobile components
Advanced materials and composites
Chemicals and plastics
Metalworking
Optics
Related professional services

Arts, Crafts and Design
Home-based entrepreneurs and artisans
Niche wood products and furniture
Graphic arts
Architects
Historic preservation
Set design
Arts education and training

Communications and Information Technology
IT/software
Distance education and training
Multimedia
Internet-based businesses in many sectors

Environmental
Alternative and renewable energy
Environmental sciences
Value-added natural resources
Environmental reclamation

Food
Wine production
Culinary arts
Food horticulture, processing and packaging (organic and conventional)
Regionally branded food products

Healthcare
Healthcare delivery
Medical equipment and materials (testing and manufacturing)

Life Sciences and Agribusiness
Native plant commercialization (including biotechnology)
Nutraceuticals
Biomanufacturing
Sylviculture and horticulture
Nontoxic pest management

Recreation and Tourism
Eco-tourism
Heritage tourism
Hospitality
Outdoor attractions and services
Outdoor recreation equipment

Retirement
Construction of second homes
Continuing care retirement communities
Gerontology
Adaptive technologies for the elderly
Senior-oriented services, activities and work

Security
Forensic Sciences
Homeland security technologies
Criminal justice

In an effort to respond to the diverse economic development needs of North Carolina, then State Representative Martin Nesbitt introduced legislation creating the regional economic development partnerships. It was this extraordinary insight that allowed AdvantageWest to become one of the most innovative and nimble economic development programs in the state.

Amanda Baranski , Exec. Asst./ Asst. Corp Secretary
AdvantageWest
134 Wright Brothers Way
Fletcher, NC 28732