BREC Breakthrough Challenge
Blue Ridge Biofuels wins $5,000 in a competition sponsored in part by Blue Ridge Entrepreneurial Council. Learn More

An initiative of the AdvantageWest Economic Development Group, the Blue Ridge Entrepreneurial Council is a nurturing organization for entrepreneurs in Western North Carolina, creating homegrown jobs and growing the region's economy.

BREC supports entrepreneurs through the following four focus areas: education, mentoring and networking, communications and capital formation. BREC meets monthly, and provides quarterly opportunities for qualified entrepreneurial businesses to present plans before a group of local investors, the Blue Ridge Angel Investors Network.

Independent Banker interviews AdvantageWest VP of Entrepreneurship Matt Raker
Article about "entrepreneurial laboratories" includes AdvantageWest's Certified Entrepreneurial Program.

Forbes recognizes food entrepreneur from AdvantageWest region
Chocolate maker UliMana gets more national exposure.

AdvantageWest entrepreneur is named NC Small Business Person of the Year
Cheers to Oscar Wong, Asheville brew pioneer, for winning this tremendous award.