Effective January 30, we will become Mountain BizWorks. In conjunction with the new name, we are also changing our tag-line to training - financing - opportunity. Both branding changes have been made to more accurately reflect our expanded mission. Our new site is located at www.mountainbizworks.org.

The bottom line is we are not “micro” anymore and we are not just a “fund.” In our 18 year history, MMF has primarily focused on training and financing small start-up businesses. As Mountain BizWorks, we will continue to assist microenterprise endeavors, as well as offer assistance to companies looking to expand.

We are also changing the name of our loan pool to Mountain BizCapital. The financing aspect of the organization has grown from a maximum loan of $2,500 to $35,000. In addition, we have added a new Loan Officer position to assist our clients.

There are several people who have been instrumental in making this transition a reality. Two who deserve a personal note of thanks are Karen Tessier and Jane Ware. Karen is a former MMF Board Chair and president of Market Connections, a full-service marketing company in Asheville. She led us through the daunting process of selecting the best name. Jane, a graphic designer, is a graduate of our business training program. She contributed invaluable resources to the discussion of alternative designs and created the graphic image that will be our “look” in the future. Finally, our entire staff has rallied to create a positive campaign which will launch Mountain BizWorks into a new era of business development for Western North Carolina.

Thank you for your continuing interest in and support of this important organization. We encourage you to help us spread the word about our new name and growing vision with your friends and colleagues.

Visit us at our new online home at mountainbizworks.org!