Often while we are being entertained with stories of “yesteryear” by loved ones from generations past, we are reminded of the sense of community that permeated throughout all of their transactions. Granny will recall how Old Man Johnson from the farm down the lane would always offer up his chicken’s eggs (which were of course free-range and local simply because that is how eggs were) at just the moment she needed them for her fair-winning pound cake recipe. Grandpa will recount when his tractor went out late in the season and how he never could have gotten that season’s hay cut if he had to order a new part from a manufacturer’s website across the country. Instead, he could count on the nearby small tractor parts store, owned by a childhood friend’s family, to have it. And he could even count on having their help with installation. “Alliances” ran deep in those days. And, today, in the modern business world, we are seeing this type of simple, neighbor-helping-neighbor mentality rise again, providing great benefits to our complex business and customer needs.

These modern alliances allow business owners to come together monthly to network, learn about business skills, share their struggles, and further connect with resources. Most local entrepreneurs are sole proprietors, and having a place where they can be with other business owners helps to alleviate some of the isolation and disconnection from the community that can occur.

Asheville’s Black Business Alliance (BBA) was formed in 2007 by Elaine Robinson, a small business owner and business developer for Mountain BizWorks. While talking with other local small business owners, Elaine saw African American business owners having common struggles around leasing business space, finding capital for their businesses, and marketing to customers. So, today, at each monthly meeting, business owners share their needs, and fellow alliance members offer their services to meet those needs. Recently, when an alliance member needed clients for her catering business, several businesses with a need for catering contracted with this client for their needs. When a business owner needed help with leasing a space downtown, another client offered to rent part of their office space to this client until they could afford the higher rent they wanted to pursue.

A great example of local businesses helping and supporting one another involved three BBA business owners. Early in 2007, LaQuanna Edwards started her event planning business, which was a lifelong dream. Her dream became a reality after coming to Mountain BizWorks to develop a business plan and then attending the Black Business Alliance to develop a networking system. Not long after LaQuanna joined the BBA, Kimberly Hunter of Events Forte Affair discovered Mountain BizWorks’ services and attended the BBA. When she came into the Alliance, she met LaQuanna, and they began to see how they could work together. Today, Kimberly plans events and LaQuanna provides rental equipment and materials for those events. This was a great alliance for these two ladies, but there was room for more. Leo Finley, owner and operator of The Party Man, was a longtime member of Mountain BizWorks. When his business coach encouraged him to attend the BBA to expand his contacts and develop a networking system, Leo met Kimberly and LaQuanna and was able to refer business to both of them. In Leo’s business, he contracts for all aspects of an event or party, including entertainment. With his new connections, he could contract with Kimberly for event planning and LaQuanna for the rental aspects.

Whether it’s at the local coffee shop or in a networking meeting, Western North Carolina is full of opportunities to connect with a neighboring business and, thusly, support our unique and vibrant local economy. The connections made through a personal meeting in a group of likeminded individuals are priceless. Similar to how our ancestors could not have survived without the help of their neighbors, today’s successful entrepreneurs are building local alliances with the hopes of bringing business success to all who are involved.

Rachel Miller, Annie Price and Sharon Oxendine are support staff of Mountain BizWorks; Mountain BizWorks is a not-for-profit organization building economic opportunities through business development and capital. For more information, visit www.mountainbizworks.org.

Back to New Life Journal..