About Us

HighCountryBiz.com is a work product of the North Carolina Rural Entrepreneurship Development System (EDS), a collaborative project funded by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and led by the NC Rural Economic Development Center (Rural Center), Institute for Rural Entrepreneurship.

Special Thanks To:

North Carolina Rural Economic Development Center's Institute for Rural Entrepreneurship.

The mission of the North Carolina Economic Development Center is to develop, promote, and implement sound economic strategies to improve the quality of life of rural North Carolinians. The Rural Center is a multi-faceted program that includes conducting research into rural issues; advocating for policy and program innovations; and building the productive capacity of rural leaders, entrepreneurs and community organizations.
The Institute for Rural Entrepreneurship was established for "homegrown" entrepreneurial ventures, which represent an important way to build and sustain the rural economy. The center is involved in boosting rural business development through its Microenterprise Loan Program and Capital Access Program. With the Institute for Rural Entrepreneurship, the center commits itself further to building and strengthening the entrepreneurial environment in rural North Carolina.

Erik Pages of EntreWorks and John Parker of Good Work, especially for their Navigating Business Services in North Carolina: Your "Where to Go for What" Guide.

Small Business and Technology Development Center's Business Start-up and Resource Guide, Starting a Business in North Carolina.

The North Carolina Small Business and Technology Development Center (SBTDC) helps small business owners (and those interested in starting a business) meet the challenges of today's business environment, manage that ever-changing world, and plan for the future of their business. They do this by providing management counseling and educational services to small and mid-sized businesses throughout North Carolina from 17 offices across the state - each affiliated with a college or university.

Appalachian State University's Center for Entrepreneurship, Walker College of Business

The Center for Entrepreneurship provides opportunities for students across campus to learn about entrepreneurship through expanded educational offerings and experiences where they can interact with entrepreneurial organizations in the region and around the world.

And thank you to the High Country Business Resource Alliance Partners for their insights, contributions, and edits.

HighCountryBiz.com is produced by Appalachian Regional Development Institute of Appalachian State University

Project Director: Chilton Rogers
Content Developer: David Ponder
Graphic Designer: Anna Helms
Web Developer: Kinney Baughman

Appalachian Regional Development Institute (ARDI) is an applied research and public service program of the university. Through ARDI, the university makes its resources, faculty and professional staff available to address economic, business, government, and social issues and problems related to regional development. ARDI also provides a range of training and continuing education programs including workshops, courses, seminars and conferences. Although its primary geographic area of operation is Western North Carolina, ARDI also address state, national and global issues relevant to regional development.