ASHEVILLE— On May 16, 2024, the Western Women’s Business Center (WWBC) will host a special WWBC 10th Anniversary Gala at The Venue in Asheville, bringing together entrepreneurs, community partners, and more to celebrate a decade of the WWBC serving entrepreneurs in Western North Carolina.
Since its inception in 2014, the WWBC has endeavored to uplift and support small business owners in a 22-county region in Western North Carolina, with a specific focus on women and minority entrepreneurs.
A program of Carolina Small Business Development Fund (CSBDF) and funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration, the WWBC meets the needs of small business owners in Western North Carolina through one-on-one business coaching, workshops, access to capital, and more.
On May 16, the WWBC will convene small business owners, community partners, fellow small business advocates, and many more in Asheville for an evening of elegance, empowerment, and celebration of a decade of excellence of the WWBC.
“We are so excited and honored to be celebrating a decade of WWBC service in Western North Carolina,” said WWBC Director Zurilma Anuel. “For 10 years the Western Women’s Business Center has served as a catalyst for the success of women entrepreneurs in Western North Carolina. We are so proud of all that we have accomplished, and we cannot wait to celebrate those accomplishments with the small businesses, partners, and ecosystem that has helped to make our work so impactful in our region.”
The formal 10th Anniversary Gala will be held at The Venue, a Woman-owned small business and event venue located in Downtown Asheville. The 10th Anniversary Gala will feature live music, an elegant plated dinner and cocktail hour, as well as an awards presentation to honor some of the wonderful small business owners the WWBC has had the pleasure of working with. Additionally, the night will feature networking opportunities for attendees and an anniversary cake cutting.
Wells Fargo will serve as the title sponsor for the WWBC 10th Anniversary Gala, continuing its long history of strong support of the WWBC and Western North Carolina’s small business ecosystem.
The WWBC 10th Anniversary Gala is also made possible by the support of the WWBC’s strong partners, including the U.S. Small Business Administration, the SBTDC, and the Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College Small Business Center.
“For 10 years, the success of the Western Women’s Business Center has helped to drive economic development and growth not only in Western NC, but across the entire state,” said CSBDF President & CEO Kevin Dick. “By supporting the dreams and business pursuits of so many women across 22 of the state’s 100 counties, WWBC is making an impact that reaches throughout the State and other states within the Southeast U.S. We continue to be proud of the WWBC team and their vast network of partners, practitioners, and inspired clients as we celebrate a decade of excellence.”
The WWBC 10th Anniversary Gala will begin at 5:30 p.m. on May 16, with doors opening at 5:00 p.m. for networking and registration. More information on the event and tickets can be found at wwbcnc.org/10thanniversarygala.
About the Western Women’s Business Center (WWBC)
Since 2014 and with a specific focus on women and minority entrepreneurs, the Western Women’s Business Center has endeavored to uplift and support small business owners in a 22-county region in Western North Carolina. By providing group trainings and workshops, access to capital, and one-on-one business coaching, the WWBC plays a crucial role in the region’s small business ecosystem.
The WWBC is a program of Carolina Small Business Development Fund and is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration.
About Carolina Small Business Development Fund (CSBDF)
Founded in 1990, Carolina Small Business Development Fund is a nonprofit and certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) that fosters economic development in underserved communities through access to capital, technical assistance, and policy research to light the way for small businesses. Since 2010, CSBDF has deployed more than $113.9 million through 1,256 loans and 1,791 grants to dedicated small business across North Carolina, helping to create or retain more than 5,100 full-time jobs.
FOR MEDIA INQUIRIES:
Alec Sawyer
Marketing & Communications Manager, CSBDF
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