We're still going strong in Asheville - it's a good time to visit

The Mountain Xpress reported at the end of July that the Asheville economy is still going strong, despite the national downturn. Both fundamental economic sectors - health services and tourism - in Asheville are still seeing growth, according to economists.

Asheville had 51 straight months of job growth through the beginning of 2008. And, while home prices and new construction are declining, home appreciate rates are staying strong. The article breaks down each of Asheville's strongest sectors: industry serving new residents, professional and business services, manufacturing, health services and tourism. I'll stick to the tourism review.

Tourism saw the most new jobs, the restaurant industry counting for 80% of them. There was a small increase in leisure travel, a decrease in business travel, and less restaurant spending. Hotel and motel occupancy rates were also down for the first time since 2004 (at Carolina Mornings, we'd like to think it's because people are choosing the benefits of vacation rentals!).

What does this mean for you? If you live in Asheville, it's good news for your pocketbook or wallet. If you want to visit Asheville, it means you'll be contending with fewer travelers - making your reservations easier to secure, restaurant waits shorter, events less crowded, and your accommodations offering quite a few specials... like these with our Carolina Mornings Asheville vacation rental owners.

More Bele Chere guidance

The Mountain Xpress brings us more interesting Bele Chere action:

A live webcam of Bele Chere
An article about the humble beginnings of Bele Chere '79 (a mere 10,000 people, where as the past few years have seen 350,000-400,000)
And links to the Bele Chere Basics, Entertainment Schedule, Food & Attractions


Also note Shuttle Info:

• Shuttles are $3 roundtrip and run every 20 minutes. The first shuttle runs an hour before the festival, last shuttle runs an hour after the festival.

• East Route Shuttle goes from behind Asheville Mall on Tunnel Road to the circle on College Street.

• West Route Shuttle goes from the K-Mart at Patton Avenue to the intersection of Wall Street and Otis Street.

Bele Chere 2008 is coming! Insider tips and tricks Part 1: Bus and Taxi transit

The Bele Chere official Web site is, of course, your one online stop for complete information about this huge public event (each year during Bele Chere weekend, Asheville hosts one of the largest street festivals in the Southeast, with 365,000+ people!).

The Mountain Xpress has this year's official print guide to the festival. This has info about all the bands, the stages where they'll play, parking lots and more in one convenient, roll it up & put it in your back pocket kind of guide. You can pick them up ALL over town - just keep your eyes peeled for a Mountain Xpress newspaper rack.

The guide should look like the picture to the left, so keep an eye out! Photo from Mountain Xpress Web site.

Tips and Tricks
So, now that you know where to go for all of that other valuable information on the festival, I'd like to share my tips and tricks for the easiest navigation of getting to and from Bele Chere.

Taxi and Bus Transit. If you plan on drinking alcohol at the festival and don't have a designated driver, please please PLEASE use a taxi service or the city bus. The bus is by far the cheapest option, while the taxi may be the easiest (especially if you life or are staying far from downtown). You can arrange a taxi driver to take you to the festival, then keep the driver's direct number for a pick-up when you decide you're ready to leave.

Bus Service:
The city buses (Asheville Transit) start running at 6 a.m. and run until 11 p.m. Buses may run longer on Bele Chere weekend. If you have questions, The Transit Center is located near the heart of downtown, at 49 Coxe Avenue next to the U.S. Post Office. Regular fare is $1.00, or you can buy a booklet of 11 tickets for $7.00.

Taxi Services:
New Blue Bird Taxi Company - 828.258.8331
Beaver Lake Cab Company - 828.252.1913
A Red Cab Company - 828.232.1112


Stay tuned for Part II: Parking! Which will include my recommendation for parking as well as a brief bit of information regarding Carolina Mornings - Asheville Cabins vacation rental accommodations for Bele Chere weekend!

Just Economics recognizes businesses paying a 'living wage'

Carolina Mornings is part of a growing list of certified 'living wage' businesses, as determined by Just Economics. The Mountain Xpress recently featured the organization and the current list of certified businesses in the article Living wage issue picking up steam.

Here is an excerpt from the article:
Living-wage proponents have long maintained that paying workers enough to meet their basic expenses in the local economy is ultimately good for businesses as well. Now, with the issue gaining traction here, a small but growing number of employers are taking the pledge and getting certified by Just Economics, a local nonprofit, says staffer Sarah Osmer.

Launched in March, the free, voluntary program has certified 38 businesses, nonprofits, churches and other employers (see sidebar, “Certified"). For businesses, says Osmer, the biggest immediate payback is the ability to market themselves as a responsible and sustainable employer in a city filled with discriminating consumers. Employers needing time to reach the appropriate wage levels can get probationary certification that gives them two years, with benchmarks to be met along the way.

According to the article, Just Economics has determined that the living wage in the Asheville area is $22,700 per year ($11.35 per hour) or $19,700/yr ($9.85/hr) for an employer providing health insurance, based on Housing and Urban Development's annual calculation of Fair Market Rent. Important to note that Osmer adds that this is the bare minimum.