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We all love our jobs (Right? No? Just me? Okay.), but sometimes it’s cool to look at what other companies are doing right: from growing fast + scaling quickly to just doing generally cool stuff like helping students adjust to college or making delicious Kombucha.

When thinking of the biggest employers in Asheville four names probably come to mind: Mission, Biltmore, UNC Asheville + Ingles. While these companies are huge here in WNC, but did you know that there are seven Inc. 5000 fastest growing companies right here in the #828?

We’ve scoured lists to bring you 30+ businesses to we’re excited about.

We want to know from you: What business would you be crushed about if it closed? Your favorite coffee shop, an innovative start-up, or a company with a storied local history? Answer in the comment section here. ⬇

From the Inc. 5000 list Fastest Growing Businesses

Avadim Technologies (#162) | This healthcare + technology company focuses on “preserving the natural functions of the body by preserving the health of the skin”. 📍Thompson St. |📈 Growth: 2,537.46% | 💸Revenue: $6.3 million

Blueprint Summer Programs (#851)| Blueprint is a pre-college program that allows rising college students to adjust to on-campus life and college experiences. 📍N. Market St. | 📈Growth: 528.59% | 💸Revenue: $2 million

Cloud for Good (#1462)| Cloud for Good works with nonprofit organizations, K-12 schools + higher education institutions to create transformational change with Salesforce. See our feature on them here. 📍Hendersonville Rd. | 📈Growth: 277.18% | 💸Revenue: $6.1 million

Plasticard Locktech International (#2272) | PLI is the largest gift, loyalty + hospitality card manufacturer and has been producing cards for the past 35 years.📍Sweeten Creek Industrial Park Rd. | 📈Growth: 160.41% | 💸Revenue: $116.1 million

Aeroflow Healthcare (#2450)|Aeroflow offers healthcare insurance support. 📍Sweeten Creek Rd. | 📈Growth: 146.06% | 💸Revenue: $73.6 million

Bonus: MedStream Anesthesia, PLLC (#3704) + The Cheat Sheet (#3832) are also on the list.

*Data from 2017.

WNC’s oldest – yet continually growing – businesses

Mission Health |📍HQ: Biltmore Ave. | 👥Employees: 10,000 | Job Opportunities | Having started in 1885 by four women, Mission Health serves the 18 westernmost counties in N.C. with 763 beds.

Ingles |📍HQ: Black Mountain | 👥Employees: 200+ stores with various staff | Job Opportunities | The first Ingles opened in 1963 by Robert Ingle + today Ingles is found in six states with over 200 locations.

Biltmore |📍House: 1 Lodge St., HQ: Pack Sq. | 👥Employees: 2,400+ on Biltmore Estate alone | Job Opportunities | Biltmore Estate is made up of the house, hotel, winery, restaurants, shops + more. See our history of Biltmore Estate here.

Buncombe County Schools |📍HQ: Bingham Rd. | 👥Employees: 3,752 | | BCS is the largest school system in WNC + the 13th largest school system in N.C.

Highland Brewing |📍Old Charlotte Highway | 👥Employees: 40+ | Highland Brewing may have a small staff, however they are the largest native N.C. brewer + 3rd largest craft brewing solar array in the U.S.

NCEI - National Centers for Environmental Information |📍Patton Ave. | 👥 An entity of NOAA, they host + provides public access to one of the most significant archives for environmental data on Earth. (See why we’re named Climate City here).

Bonus: DYK GE Aviation on Sweeten Creek has a plant here that employs more than 400 people? Here’s their success story, from Asheville Chamber.

Local startups doin’ cool stuff

These five companies are part of HATCH AVL, an entrepreneur ecosystem located at 45 S. French Broad.

Galaxy Digital – Volunteer management software for nonprofits, volunteers, college campuses + corporate businesses.

Anthroware – Creates customized software to help your business.

Shiny Creek – Consulting + application development.

LoLo – Sends digital local gifts to clients.

Plum Print – Digitalizes your child’s artwork so that it can be made into a book, canvas, pillow + more.

Bonus: Better than Unicorns – A virtual reality company which builds immersive, interactive and animated environments that transport viewers into other realities. (Not in Hatch but doing very cool stuff).

Bonus Picks: A few companies loved by AVLtoday

HomeTrust Bank |📍 Woodfin St. | A community bank with locations in N.C., East T.N., Upstate S.C., + Southwest V.A.

UNC Asheville | 📍University Heights | |Asheville’s undergraduate college for 90+ years, which employs 813 people.

Asheville Regional Airport | 📍61 Terminal Dr. #1, Fletcher | Asheville airport has been in service since 1961.

The Cliffs at Walnut Cove | 📍 40 Club Village Way, Arden | This private living community supports the local community by bringing in jobs, purchases of local products and services and generating taxes and fees for WNC.

Buchi Kombucha | 📍Marshall | Buchi started with two moms who brewed kombucha in similar ways. Today, Buchi distributes their kombucha all over Asheville + the SE. (Find out where to get Buchi here).

French Broad Chocolates | 📍Factory: Buxton Ave., Shop: S. Pack | A Chocolate company which started in Costa Rica (and continues to this day), was brought to Asheville. (If you haven’t been to their tasting room downtown, go.)

Eno: Eagles Nest Outfitters | 📍Sweeten Creek | They make those camping hammocks we all love.

Bonus: White Labs, which is HQ’s on the West Coast, opened a lab + restaurant on S. Charlotte St. The fermentation lab is attached to a Kitchen & Tap which serves pizzas + beer.

Part of the reasons I love my job here at AVLtoday is learning what is happening in my own community. Like, all of these incredible businesses.

Was there anything on this list that surprised you, or one you wish we would have added?? Reply to this email. Or maybe there is a business here in the #828 that you are blown away by.

Tell us so we can keep them on our radar.

TGIF Asheville!!

–Audra