MEDIA ADVISORY
February 13, 2015
CONTACT: Julia Book, Self-Help Credit-Union, julia.book@self-help.org or 828-676-2196.
Self-Help Credit Union Hosting New Economy Conference on March 18th
Asheville, NC - Self Help Credit Union is hosting a March 18th conference, “Bringing it Home:
Building a Local Economy for Everyone” exploring how local, regional, and national programs
are changing the face of economic development in Western North Carolina and across the
country.
The daylong conference will be held at the Haynes Conference Center, A-B Tech Enka Site,
1459 Sand Hill Rd in Candler, NC 28715. (Phone 828-398-7901). Tickets are $30, $25 for
students and are available at www.bringingithomewnc.org. Some scholarships are available.
Featured speakers include some of the major innovators in economic development such as:
 Ed Whitfield, Fund for Democratic Communities
 Becky Anderson, economic development consultant
 Joe Reimann, Coop Business Development, Northcountry Cooperative Development
Fund
 Franzi Charen, Asheville Grown Business Alliance
 Carol Peppe-Hewitt, Slow Money and Community Sourced Capital
Conference Themes
 Building a strong local economy from the ground up (local supply and distribution
chains, local collaboration, etc.)
 Creating a large, diverse economy that includes everyone, including all income levels, all
races, all creeds
 Looking both at successful existing structures as well as new, innovative models for
building a new economy--from our region and other areas across the country
Who should attend?
 Entrepreneurs and small business owners seeking technical support or funding
 Investors in small business looking for new places to invest
 Community nonprofits seeking awareness of economic development work in the region
 Local, regional and state government officials interested in innovative models

Economic development professionals interested in innovation and creativity
The conference includes five rotating panels and a lunchtime keynote by Ed Whitfield with the
Fund for Democratic Communities. The conference also includes a “Local Café”, affording
participants opportunity to meet one-on-one with local capital source and technical service
providers.
List of Conference Sponsors
Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce, Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College,
Asheville Grown Business Alliance, Catawba Brewing Company, Center for Local Economies,
Eagle Market Streets Development Corp and Block-by-Block Industries, HomeTrust Bank,
Lenoir-Rhyne University, Mountain BizWorks, Mountain Xpress, North Country Cooperative
Development Fund, RiverLink, Self-Help Credit Union, Small Business Technology
Development Center, Southern Appalachian Brewery, The Aloft Hotel, The Support Center,
WNC MedWeek Committee.
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About Self-Help
Self-Help is a community development lender headquartered in Durham, NC. Founded in 1980,
Self-Help has provided over $6.4 billion in financing to nearly 87,000 families, individuals and
businesses underserved by traditional financial institutions. It helps drive economic development
and strengthen communities by financing hundreds of homebuyers each year, as well as
nonprofits, child care centers, community health facilities, public charter schools, and residential
and commercial real estate projects. Through its credit union network, Self-Help serves over
100,000 families in North Carolina, California and Chicago and offers a full range of financial
products and services. Learn more at www.self-help.org.