Yancey Times Journal: Yancey County is a Certified Entrepreneurial Community
Date Posted: 1/4/2012
By Jody Higgins, editor
Yancey Times Journal - January 4, 2012
There is a shift away from traditional economic development that focused on recruiting large companies and toward recruiting small businesses and placing value on the role entrepreneurs play in communities.
Yancey is blessed with entrepreneurs that have become the mainstay in the economy as large industries came and went, often with a devastating impact on the county when they pulled out.
Yancey’s new designation by AdvantageWest, the regional economic development group, as a Certified Entrepreneurial Community (CEC) became official recently when the celebration and launch was held at Burnsville Town Center.
The process has been ongoing for several years, started by former EDC director Gwen Harris then renewed by current EDC director Wanda Proffitt. A dedicated community team led by Donna Haynes carried out the long and rigorous two-year certification effort. She made the presentation to team and community leaders and officials from AdvantageWest.
“In the 1980s, Yancey became part of the Governor’s Community of Excellence program which meant we were ready to meet and greet industry,” said Proffitt. “In today’s world, we don’t always have the assets industry desires and that makes it even more important for us to promote entrepreneurship. Now, we have broadband and technology that provide us with development opportunities we have never had before.”
Haynes also put together an impressive video touting the county’s strengths and how the team navigated the process to attain the prestigious CEC designation.
Haynes said the focus of the CEC program is on new opportunities for the county even while former and current economic development strategies still play a role.
“We are looking at bringing in new ideas and choosing the right things to do while we are moving forward,” she explained.
The theme -- encourage, support, connect, celebrate -- runs through the new approach to economic development that pushes entrepreneurship.
As the program launches in Yancey County, entrepreneurship will be encouraged and supported and will rely on connecting with others who have had success.
Haynes said Yancey is in an excellent position to move forward with this newest tool in its economic development kit because much has been accomplished over the past decade to move the county forward. She discussed the completion of many of the recommendations made in the Sanford Holshouser Economic Development Report for the county based on input from community members and local leaders.
Some of the things accomplished that were recommended include broadband and technology expansion, four-lane highway, expansion of agriculture and establishment of an ag center, sewer service to Micaville, enhanced recreation, completion of new library, five-member board of commissioners, alcohol sales and promotion of Mt. Mitchell State Park, an important county asset. The county also obtained Scenic Byway status from Mt. Mitchell through South Toe and Burnsville to Madison County.
In addition, Yancey was moved from a Tier 2 to a Tier 1 status recently, which means it is economically distressed and can offer more incentives to encourage businesses to locate here.
The county has taken a number of steps to improve its situation including holding an economic summit that resulted in Yancey being selected by Golden LEAF Foundation as the recipient of up to $2 million to aid in job creation.
As a CEC, the county will focus on mentoring, marketing/networking, youth engagement, and hopefully venture capital investment. A key component will be tapping into the wealth of experience available here in the form of local entrepreneurs and those who have retired here or have second homes in Yancey.
Marketing and communication will play a key role. “We have great things happening in Yancey County,” said Haynes, “but no one knows that unless we serve as our own ambassadors and tell them.”
Innovation and divergent thinking are critical to the county’s future, said Haynes.
AdvantageWest board chair Tom Alexander, of Taylor and Murphy Construction, said Yancey was the first to apply for the CEC program and is one of the 10 western counties to obtain the certification.
The brainchild of AdvantageWest Economic Development Group, a Certified Entrepreneurial Community is an economic development strategy—a program that helps communities become entrepreneur ready. That means the overall business climate, policies, regulations, and opportunities to learn and grow are simple to find and available. It also means there's a positive, enthusiastic attitude toward economic opportunity for entrepreneurs.
“You have put another very valuable tool in your toolbox when you go out recruiting small businesses for Yancey County,” Alexander said.
Matt Raker, AdvantageWest’s VP of Entrepreneurship, said Yancey’s CEC application was one of the best received. “I congratulate the Yancey team. Entrepreneurship is a contact sport and your community is ready.”
For more information about Yancey’s CEC program or how you can help, contact Wanda Proffitt at 682-7722.
Photo from the Yancey County CEC ceremony on December 19, 2011.
Photo courtesy Yancey Times Journal.
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Testimonial
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.
Gordon S. Myers
Founding Chair
AdvantageWest Board of Directors
Amanda Baranski
, Executive Assistant & Assistant Corporate Secretary
AdvantageWest
134 Wright Brothers Way
Fletcher, NC 28732
ph. 828-687-7234
fx. 828-687-7552
Email Amanda Baranski
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