LimonesFandemoniumBusiness Services AssociatesThe Soapy Dog
Comments From Alumni

Smoky Mountain Dance Center is proud to be a member! Mountain BizWorks is a great starting point for rookie entrepreneurs lookings to launch a new business, as well as an excellent resource center for experience entrepreneurs with hopes for improvement or expansion.

Nicole Polzella - Smoky Mountain Dance Center

Support Local Businesses!

Burrell Electric
Category: Construction - Electric
Danny Burrell
5 Jewels Lane
Weaverville, NC 28787
Phone: (828)645-5682
Email: danjburrell@aol.com

Electric wiring, security and alarm systems, phone systems. Residential and commercial. Licensed.


Sundance Life Coaching
Category: Construction - Electric
Araya Hansen
17 Winthrop Road
Asheville, NC 28806
Phone: (828)285-9361
Email: araya-sol@charter.net
Website: http://www.ashevillecoaches.com

Empowerment Coaching connects one's inner purpose and passion to one's outer goals and actions to bring about life fulfillment and extraordinary results.


Visit our online directory for a complete listing of alumni-owned and operated businesses!

For over two decades, Mountain BizWorks has been in the hope business, the dream business, the opportunity business.  We have been helping small business owners build the economy of Western North Carolina one business and one job at a time.  Mountain BizWorks values serving all individuals who aspire to be entrepreneurs and they believe that people should be able to create a better life for themselves and their families through business ownership.   Mountain BizWorks believes that successful businesses create long-term social benefits and economic prosperity, particularly in underserved communities.  They value the dignity and work of each individual and encourage self-sufficiency, accountability, and cooperation.  Furthermore, they value being a community that bridges the gap between entrepreneurs of varying incomes, geographies and ethnicities. Mountain BizWorks is an entrepreneurial, non-profit organization that operates with a double bottom line of social impact and financial viability -- ensuring a permanent resource for the Western North Carolina region.

In 2009, Mountain BizWorks was able to provide its services to 1074 entrepreneurs (65% were low-income, 61% were women, 26% were racial or ethnic minorities).  Those individuals created 163 businesses and expanded 390 businesses. In turn, those businesses created 309 jobs and sustained 1147 jobs. We also made 49 loans totaling almost $792,800.


Since thriving small businesses are central to a vibrant regional economy, our vision is that every entrepreneur has access to business training, support, and capital for creating and sustaining successful businesses.


Shane Corbin - Hog Wild BBQ - Franklin, NC

Alumni Spotlights

Mountain BizWorks' member Shane Corbin is literally going wild! After certifying in Foundations in April, he opened Hog Wild Bar-B-Q at 34 Highlands Road, next door to the former Lowe's in Franklin.


Hog Wild's pork and beef barbeque is slow cooked over hickory every day. Additional selections include smoked chicken, homemade hushpuppies, salads, homemade desserts, and a kids menu.

Hog Wild Bar-B-Q offers catering and takeout. Their hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. For additional information, call 828-349-9150.