Attach to Form 990 or 990-EZ.
Go to www.irs.gov/Form990 for the latest information.
| Return Reference | Explanation |
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| PART III; LINE 4A | MARKETING AND SPONSORSHIP ENABLED BUSINESSES TO LEVERAGE THEIR MEMBERSHIP TO INCREASE EXPOSURE FOR THEIR BUSINESS. WELCOMED MORE THAN 210 NEW MEMBERS AND SERVED 1,703 MEMBER BUSINESSES. INCREASED VISITS TO OUR WEBSITE ASHEVILLECHAMBER.ORG BY 49%. PROVIDED MARKETING OPPORTUNITIES TO 300+ BUSINESSES THROUGH TOTAL RESOURCE CAMPAIGN, ENGAGING 19 COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS AND INCREASING REVENUE OVER $200,000 IN TWO YEARS. SUPPORTED SMALL BUSINESSES WITH THE BUSINESS EXPO: 120+ EXHIBITORS; IN COLLABORATION WITH 4 REGIONAL CHAMBERS SHOWCASING LOCAL SOLUTIONS TO BUSINESS ISSUES. SUPPORTED OUR RESTAURANT OWNERS AND EMPLOYEES WITH ASHEVILLE RESTAURANT WEEK: 36 PARTICIPATING RESTAURANTS; 160+ ATTENDEES AT KICKOFF EVENT. DELIVERED ADDITIONAL VALUE TO MEMBERS. TRANSITIONED 967 MEMBERS TO NEW TIERED DUES STRUCTURE PROVIDING ADDITIONAL VALUE AND BENEFITS. CRAFTED 45 ASHEVILLE SPOTLIGHTS, PROFILING MEMBER BUSINESSES ON OUR WEBSITE, NEWSLETTER AND SOCIAL MEDIA. GENERATED 390,000 ONLINE IMPRESSIONS FOR FEATURED MEMBERS ON OUR WEBSITE. CELEBRATED LOCAL BUSINESS ACCOMPLISHMENTS. CONDUCTED 45 RIBBON CUTTINGS TO CELEBRATE GRAND OPENINGS AND BUSINESS MILESTONES. RECOGNIZED THE EFFORTS OF GROWING BUSINESSES WITH THE SKY HIGH GROWTH AWARDS; 20 BUSINESSES HONORED. EVENTS AND EDUCATION FOSTERED BUSINESS CONNECTIONS. 26,000+ CONNECTIONS MADE AMONG LOCAL BUSINESSES AT CHAMBER NETWORKING EVENTS, INCLUDING BUSINESS AFTER HOURS, BUSINESS BEFORE HOURS AND MEGA NETWORKING. FACILITATED THREE PROFESSIONAL NETWORKING GROUPS WITH 80 PARTICIPANTS MEETING WEEKLY TO ENCOURAGE, SUPPORT AND SHARE LEADS WITH ONE ANOTHER. CULTIVATED CHAMBER AMBASSADORS, A 15-MEMBER TEAM WHO CONNECT WITH NEW MEMBERS AND CHAMPION CHAMBER INITIATIVES WITH WEEKLY HANDS-ON VOLUNTEERING. INFORMED AND INSPIRED MEMBERS THROUGH PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNICATIONS. CONVENED THE SMART SERIES: 9 WORKSHOPS PRESENTED BY MEMBERS SHARING THEIR EXPERTISE ON RELEVANT BUSINESS TOPICS WITH MORE THAN 400 ATTENDEES. LED WOMANUP: 4 EVENTS OFFERING INSPIRATION TO 1,200 WOMEN IN BUSINESS. HONORED SMALL BUSINESSES DURING SMALL BUSINESS WEEK: 50+ SMALL BUSINESSES VISITED BY SURPRISE PATROL; 5 EDUCATIONAL AND SOCIAL EVENTS. REDESIGNED OUR E-NEWSLETTER - DELIVERED TO 7,300 SUBSCRIBERS WEEKLY. INCREASED SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE, GARNERING 1.8 MILLION VIEWS AND INCREASING ENGAGEMENT BY 132%. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND RESEARCH NURTURED HIGH-GROWTH ENTREPRENEURS THROUGH VENTURE ASHEVILLE. SUPPORTED NEARLY 30 ACTIVE COMPANIES AND 50+ MENTORS THROUGH THE ELEVATE MENTORING PROGRAM. CELEBRATED 5TH ANNIVERSARY OF ASHEVILLE ANGELS, NOW CONSISTING OF 20 CERTIFIED INVESTOR/MEMBERS. HELD INAUGURAL VENTURE 15, RECOGNIZING FASTEST GROWING STARTUPS THAT ACCOUNT FOR $52 MILLION IN LOCAL REVENUE. LAUNCHED ASHEVILLE IMPACT MICRO GRANT RAISING $25,000 FOR EARLY STAGE STARTUPS. CAPITALIZED ON RESEARCH EXPERTISE TO PROVIDE INSIGHTS AND SUPPORT DATA-DRIVEN DECISION MAKING. HOSTED NEW METRO BREAKFAST, A RESEARCH-FORWARD EVENT FOR KEY CHAMBER PARTNERS FOCUSED ON DYNAMICS AFFECTING OUR LOCAL REGION'S ECONOMY, DEMOGRAPHY, BUSINESSES AND WORKFORCE. LAUNCHED RESEARCH BRAND, RIVERBIRD RESEARCH, A DIVISION OF THE ASHEVILLE AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. RESPONDED TO 200+ RESEARCH REQUESTS. IMPLEMENTED NEW ONLINE INTERACTIVE AND MAP-BASED COMMUNITY DATA TOOL SET, GIS PLANNING. CONDUCTED STATE OF THE WORKFORCE WNC TALENT SURVEY, SOLICITING DATA-DRIVEN FEEDBACK FROM OVER 700 EMPLOYER RESPONSES ACROSS 10 INDUSTRIES IN 10-COUNTY LABOR SHED OF THE ASHEVILLE METRO AREA TO INFORM WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY. PARTNERED WITH LABOR FORCE ANALYTICS LEADER EMSI FOR FOLLOW-UP STUDY. METRO ECONOMY OUTLOOK FEATURED ECONOMIST DR. MICHAEL WALDEN, ATTRACTING OUR LARGEST AUDIENCE TO-DATE. SUPPORTED A THRIVING ECONOMY THROUGH BUSINESS RECRUITMENT AND LOCAL BUSINESS EXPANSIONS. HAAKON INDUSTRIES OF VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA ANNOUNCED PLANS TO INVEST $19.6 MILLION IN A NEW FACILITY IN ENKA COMMERCE PARK, CREATING 160 NEW JOBS. PROVIDED OPERATIONAL SUPPORT AND SPONSORSHIP OF MO SUMMIT (HOSTING 185+ CEOS OF LEADING PURPOSE-DRIVEN COMPANIES) AND NC SITE SELECTORS SUMMIT (WELCOMING DOZENS OF NATIONAL SITE SELECTORS IN FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND EVENT). HANDLED 60+ LEADS REPRESENTING $3.1 BILLION IN POTENTIAL CAPITAL INVESTMENT AND 6,800+ POTENTIAL NEW JOBS FOR THE COMMUNITY. HOSTED 21 EXECUTIVE MEETINGS AND COMMUNITY SITE VISITS WITH PROJECT CLIENTS. CONDUCTED BUSINESS RECRUITMENT TRIPS TO 10 DIFFERENT DESTINATIONS IN U.S. AND ABROAD GENERATING DOZENS OF QUALIFIED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT LEADS. AUTOMOTIVE COMPONENTS MANUFACTURER, REICH LLC, ANNOUNCED EXPANDED OPERATIONS IN ARDEN FACILITY INCLUDING $10.9 MILLION IN CAPITAL INVESTMENT, 16 NEW JOBS IN NEXT 3 YEARS AT AN AVERAGE WAGE 40% ABOVE COUNTY AVERAGE. EAST FORK POTTERY ANNOUNCED $2.5 MILLION IN CAPITAL INVESTMENT IN NEW ASHEVILLE HEADQUARTER PRODUCTION FACILITY, ADDING 43 NEW JOBS IN NEXT 5 YEARS WITH ABOVE COUNTY AVERAGE WAGES. HOSTED QUARTERLY MEETINGS OF THE LOCAL E3 MANUFACTURING SUSTAINABILITY COUNCIL AND HOSTED OVER 30+ MANUFACTURING SITE LEADERS AND CEOS FOR EXCLUSIVE GATHERINGS TO BUILD RAPPORT AND LEADERSHIP CAPACITY WITH PEERS. FOSTERED WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT. LAUNCHED NEXT AVL MENTORSHIP PROGRAM, CONNECTING LOCAL COLLEGE STUDENTS FROM DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS WITH AREA EMPLOYERS FOR 9-MONTH MENTORSHIP. HOSTED 2 CAREER FAIRS WITH OVER 150 EMPLOYERS AT BOTH THE FALL AND SPRING EVENTS ATTRACTING THOUSANDS OF JOBS SEEKERS. STUDENT CAREER FAIR WELCOMED OVER 700 REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS FOR CAREER EXPLORATION AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES. LAUNCHED PARTNERSHIPS FOR ECONOMIC MOBILITY, ESTABLISHING WORKING PARTNERSHIPS WITH ASHEVILLE HOUSING AUTHORITY STAFF, UPSKILL WNC, PROJECT REENTRY, LIBERTY CORNER ENTERPRISES, AND GREEN OPPORTUNITIES TO IMPROVE AND ELEVATE MARGINALIZED POPULATIONS' ACCESS TO LIVING WAGE CAREER AND ADVANCEMENT OPPORTUNITIES. ADVOCACY AND POLICY FOSTERED BUSINESS CONNECTIONS WITH ELECTED OFFICIALS. ELECTED OFFICIALS RECEPTION: 20+ LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL ELECTED OFFICIALS; 150 MEMBERS ATTENDING LEGISLATIVE LUNCHEON & LEGISLATIVE WRAP-UP: FEATURING REGIONAL NC GENERAL ASSEMBLY MEMBERS DISCUSSING BUSINESS ISSUES 350+ ATTENDEES ADVOCATED FOR BUSINESS-FRIENDLY LEGISLATION. PARTICIPATED IN WHITE HOUSE BUSINESS ROUNDTABLES ON SMALL BUSINESS 401KS AND TARIFFS AND TRADE. PARTICIPATED IN IEDC FEDERAL FORUM IN WASHINGTON, DC ON SOUND BUSINESS POLICY AROUND TRADE, TARIFFS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. RALEIGH LEGISLATIVE VISIT: 50+ CHAMBER EXECUTIVES AND BUSINESS LEADERS FROM A 9-COUNTY REGION DISCUSSED RALEIGH POLITICS, EXPANDING RURAL BROADBAND AND MEDICINAL MARIJUANA AND HEARD FROM HOUSE AND SENATE LEADERSHIP. PROVIDED INSPIRATION FOR VISIONARY THINKING. LAUNCHED OUR NEW WEB SERIES, COFFEE WITH COREY, WHICH PROVIDES PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL INSIGHTS INTO BUSINESS TOPICS AND FEATURES REGIONAL ELECTED OFFICIALS AND OTHER THOUGHT LEADERS. INTERCITY STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP VISIT TO PORTLAND, MAINE: 30 BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS EXPLORED BEST PRACTICES AND GATHERED INSPIRATION FOR ENRICHING THE LIVES OF CITIZENS IN OUR COMMUNITY. COLLABORATION. COLLABORATED WITH THE CITY, COUNTY AND DUKE ENERGY ON THE BLUE HORIZONS PROJECT, SUCCESSFULLY DELAYING NEED FOR A NEW "PEAKER" PLANT BEING BUILT BY DUKE BY ENCOURAGING BUSINESSES AND RESIDENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN ENERGY EFFICIENCY PRACTICES. LIVE AND VISIT SHOWCASED OUR COMMUNITY AND LOCAL BUSINESSES TO VISITORS. WELCOMED MORE THAN 203,000 VISITORS AT THE ASHEVILLE VISITOR CENTER AND REFERRED THEM TO LOCAL BUSINESSES. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LENIOR-RHYNE UNIVERSITY, HELD AN OPEN CALL FOR LOCAL SCULPTURE ARTISTS TO EXHIBIT ON THE ENTRY-WAY GROUNDS OF THE ASHEVILLE VISITOR CENTER. WINNING SCULPTURES WILL BE INSTALLED BY JULY 1, 2019. THOSE APPROACHING THE VISITOR CENTER MAIN ENTRANCE WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO APPRECIATE COMPELLING LOCAL SCULPTURE BEFORE THEY EVEN STEP INSIDE. LEVERAGED THE ASHEVILLE SHOP TO FEATURE MORE LOCAL PRODUCTS. DEFINED THE ASHEVILLE SHOP BRAND WITH A NEW LOGO DESIGN HIGHLIGHTING OUR CITY, MOUNTAINS AND SKY. EXPANDED SHOP BY 800 SQUARE FEET, GIVING US THE ABILITY TO SHOWCASE MORE LOCAL PRODUCTS THAN EVER, INCLUDING PRODUCTS FROM PARTICIPANTS IN THE VENTURE ASHEVILLE ELEVATE PROGRAM. LOCAL PRODUCTS COMPRISE 75% OF THE SHOP INVENTORY, REPRESENTING THE PRODUCTS AND DESIGNS OF 165 BUSINESSES. |
| FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION A, LINE 1 | THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE SHALL CONSIST OF THE ELECTED AND APPOINTED OFFICERS, THE IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIRMAN AND THE LEGAL COUNSEL, THE LATTER SERVING AS A NON-VOTING MEMBER. THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD SHALL APPOINT LEGAL COUNSEL ON AN ANNUAL BASIS. IT SHALL ACT FOR THE BOARD BETWEEN MEETINGS OF THE BOARD, APPROVE MISSIONS OF ALL COMMITTEES, ESTABLISH RULES FOR IMPLEMENTING THE POLICIES ESTABLISHED BY THE BOARD, APPROVE SALARY AND OTHER COMPENSATION FOR THE PRESIDENT AND ESTABLISH RULES FOR COMPENSATION OF ALL OTHER EMPLOYEES. THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MAY RECOMMEND TO THE BOARD APPROPRIATE ACTION OR RESOLUTIONS ON ANY BUSINESS OF THE CHAMBER. |
| FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION A, LINE 6 | THE ASHEVILLE AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE SHALL BE COMPOSED OF ACTIVE MEMBERS. ANY PERSON, FIRM, OR CORPORATION INTERESTED IN THE PURPOSES OF THE CHAMBER SHALL BE ELIGIBLE FOR MEMBERSHIP. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS MUST APPROVE EACH APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP BY A TWO-THIRDS VOTE. |
| FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION A, LINE 7A | CURRENT CHAMBER MEMBERS MAY ELECT SIX DIRECTORS PER YEAR. |
| FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 11B | THE FORM 990 WAS REVIEWED BY MANAGEMENT OF THE ORGANIZATION. THE FORM 990 WAS THEN PROVIDED TO THE VOTING BOARD MEMBERS VIA EMAIL PRIOR TO SUBMISSION. |
| FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 12C | BOARD MEMBERS SIGN A CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY AT THE START OF THEIR TERM. BOARD MEMBERS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING CONFLICT OF INTERESTS KNOWN AND RECUSING THEMSELVES FROM ANY DISCUSSION AND/OR VOTE WHEN A POTENTIAL CONFLICT EXISTS. |
| FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 15A | THE EVALUATION COMMITTEE IS COMPOSED OF 4 INDIVIDUALS CONSISTING OF THE CURRENT, THE PAST AND FUTURE TWO CHAIRMEN. THEY MEET WITH THE CEO AND REVIEW HIS GOALS/ACHIEVEMENTS, FOLLOWED BY ANOTHER MEETING WITHOUT THE CEO FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION. A FINAL MEETING IS HELD WITH THE CEO TO REVIEW THE COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATIONS FOR COMPENSATION. A LETTER IS THEN FINALIZED BY THE CURRENT CHAIR OF THE BOARD TO THE CEO. |
| FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION C, LINE 18 | RECENT FILINGS OF THE FORM 990 ARE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST AT THE ORGANIZATION'S OFFICE. IN ADDITION, RECENT FILINGS OF THE FORM 990 ARE AVAILABLE ONLINE AT WWW.GUIDESTAR.ORG. |
| FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION C, LINE 19 | THE ORGANIZATION MAKES ITS GOVERNING DOCUMENTS, CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY, AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC UPON REQUEST. |
| FORM 990, PART XII, LINE 1: | THE CHAMBER UTILIZES A MODIFIED CASH BASIS OF ACCOUNTING. UNDER THIS METHOD, PLEDGED CONTRIBUTION REVENUE AND RELATED ASSETS ARE RECOGNIZED WHEN RECEIVED RATHER THAN WHEN EARNED. CERTAIN COMPENSATED ABSENCES ARE RECOGNIZED WHEN THE OBLIGATION IS EXPECTED TO BE LIQUIDATED WITH AVAILABLE FINANCIAL RESOURCES. ALL OTHER REVENUES AND EXPENSES ARE RECOGNIZED ON THE ACCRUAL BASIS OF ACCOUNTING. |
| FORM 990, PART XII, LINE 2C: | THIS PROCESS HAS NOT CHANGED FROM THE PRIOR YEAR. |
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