Whether your ideal Asheville visit takes you gallery hopping on Broadway, antique shopping in Biltmore Village, trekking along the Appalachian Trail, or to a downtown show at a rock club named one of the top five in the country by Rolling Stone Magazine, the Asheville area has something guaranteed to delight every visitor. Don’t just take our word for it…experience it for yourself. 
Ask almost any Chamber member why they are a member and they’ll tell you—in Asheville, it’s the most important way to meet people and grow your business. As North Carolina’s third largest Chamber, the Asheville Chamber includes more than 2,000 businesses, organizations and coalitions. Members know the value a membership provides. Find out how members find value with the Asheville Chamber. 
Look at snapshots from Chamber events and view videos of Chamber programming and events. 
Meet and connect with the leadership team that sets goals and leads the activities of the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce. 
Do you have questions about the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce? Are you wondering where we are located, what we do, or how to find photos of the Asheville area? We’ve listed answers to our most frequently asked questions here. 
The Asheville region has expertise in several dynamic talent driven industries. Local businesses, educational programs, and community leaders are working in collaboration to nurture and grow these targeted sectors. 
Many businesses are thriving in Asheville and yours could be next. Here are a few of the local businesses making headlines recently. 
Consider the Economic Development staff your one-stop resource for connecting to the Asheville community. Find a complete list of staff available to help you plan the next phase of your business. 
Asheville’s economy and industry is constantly evolving. Keep up to date on the latest industry announcements and plans here. Contact the EDC staff if your company has exciting news to share with the community. 
Economic Indicators
For a PDF report of current Economic Indicators click here: March 2012.
March Summary:
March 2012 continues a 21-month trend of year-over-year job growth in the Asheville Metro. Total nonfarm employment is up by 2.1%, or an estimated 3500 jobs, even after adjustments were made by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in the Government sector for prior months. Only 2 major industries saw employment loss compared to the same point last year: Retail Trade and Government. The unemployment rate is down 0.8 percentage points compared to March 2011 as the Ashevlle Metro continues to add jobs to the economy.
Highlight:
What is Total Nonfarm Employment? Total nonfarm employment refers to persons counted on establishment payrolls by a U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics survey. The data excludes proprietors, unincorporated self-employed, unpaid volunteers or family workers, farm workers, and domestic workers. Government employment in this measurement covers only civilian employees; military personnel are excluded as are certain other types of government agency employees. The Bureau of Labor Statistics provides more details on its website.