The Blue Ridge Region is comprised of 23 counties and a wealth of successful businesses, including 1,200 manufacturing companies and 300 technology companies.  The area boasts of a growing workforce of more than half a million. 

Approx. 1.2 million (North Carolina Office of State Budget and Management)

Highways
I-26, I-40, with easy access to I-77, I-85 and I-81

Airports
Asheville Regional Airport, http://www.flyavl.com/

Railways
Norfolk Southern Railroad Corporation, http://www.nscorp.com/nscportal/nscorp/
CSX, http://www.csx.com/

Ports
There are two modern deep-water ports in Wilmington and Morehead City.

Alleghany County
Population (2006 estimate) – 10,912
http://www.alleghanycounty-nc.gov

Ashe County
Population (2006 estimate) – 25,499
http://www.ashecountygov.com

Avery County
Population (2006 estimate) – 17,674
http://www.averycountync.gov

Buncombe County
Population (2006 estimate) – 222,174
http://www.buncombecounty.org

Burke County
Population (2006 estimate) – 90,054
http://co.burke.nc.us

Caldwell County
Population (2006 estimate) – 79,841
http://www.co.caldwell.nc.us

Cherokee County
Population (2006 estimate) – 26,309
http://www.cherokeecounty-nc.gov

Clay County
Population (2006 estimate) – 10,008
http://main.nc.us/clay

Graham County
Population (2006 estimate) – 7,995
http://main.nc.us/graham/gove.html

Haywood County
Population (2006 estimate) – 56,447
http://www.haywoodnc.net

Henderson County
Population (2006 estimate) – 99,033
http://www.henderson.lib.nc.us/county

Jackson County
Population (2006 estimate) – 35,562
http://www.jacksonnc.org

Macon County
Population (2006 estimate) – 32,395
http://www.maconnc.org

Madison County
Population (2006 estimate) – 20,355
http://www.madisoncountync.org

McDowell County
Population (2006 estimate) – 43,414
http://www.mcdowellgov.com

Mitchell County
Population (2006 estimate) – 15,681
http://www.mitchellcounty.org

Polk County
Population (2006 estimate) – 19,226
http://www.polknc.org

Rutherford County
Population (2006 estimate) – 63,867
http://www.rutherfordcountync.gov

Swain County
Population (2006 estimate) – 13,445
http://www.swaincountync.gov

Transylvania County
Population (2006 estimate) – 29,780
http://www.transylvaniacounty.org

Watauga County
Population (2006 estimate) – 42,700
http://www.wataugacounty.org

Wilkes County
Population (2006 estimate) – 67,310
http://www.wilkescounty.net

Yancey County
Population (2006 estimate) – 18,421
http://main.nc.us/yancey

Universities
Appalachian State University (Boone), http://www.appstate.edu
University of North Carolina at Asheville (Asheville), http://www.unca.edu
Western Carolina University (Cullowhee), http://www.wcu.edu

Community Colleges
Asheville-Buncombe TCC (Asheville), http://www.abtech.edu
Blue Ridge CC (Flat Rock), http://www.blueridge.edu
Caldwell CC (Hudson), http://www.cccti.edu
Catawba Valley CC (Hickory), http://www.cvcc.edu/index.cfm
Haywood CC (Clyde), http://www.haywood.edu
Isothermal CC (Spindale), http://www.isothermal.edu
Mayland CC (Spruce Pine), http://www.mayland.edu
McDowell TCC (Marion), http://www.mcdowelltech.edu
Southwestern CC (Sylva), http://www.southwesterncc.edu
Tri-County CC (Murphy), http://www.tricountycc.edu
Wilkes CC (Wilkesboro and West Jefferson), http://www.wilkescc.edu/wcccms

Private Colleges
Brevard College (Brevard), http://www.brevard.edu
Lees-McRae College (Banner Elk), http://www.lmc.edu
Mars Hill College (Mars Hill), http://www.mhc.edu
Montreat College (Black Mountain), http://www.montreat.edu
South College (Asheville), http://www.southcollegetn.edu
Warren Wilson College (Asheville), http://www.warren-wilson.edu/external_index.php

Altec Industries
Blue Ridge Paper Company
Borg Warner Turbo Systems
Carriage House Doors
Charleston Forge
Cobia Boats
Continental Teves
Elkamet
Exelsior Packaging
Genesis Furniture Industries
Google
James Tool
Nypro
Raflatac
Smiths Aerospace (GE Aircraft)
Sonopress
Team Industries
Volvo Construction Equipment
Zickgraf Industries

Corporate Income Tax – 6.9%
Franchise Tax - $1.50 per $1,000 of the largest of the following:
• Capital stock, surplus and undivided profits
• 55% of appraised value of property subject to taxation
• Book value of real property in NC less debt to acquire
Unemployment Insurance Tax – Standard beginning rate is 1.2%. Maximum tax rate is 6.84%
Workers Compensation Tax – Index rate is 2.17
State Tax Rate – 4.25%

AdvantageWest Economic Development Group
(828) 687-7234, Fax: (828) 687-7552
134 Wright Brothers Way
Fletcher, NC 28732
www.advantagewest.com

www.advantagewest.com
U.S. Census Bureau