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This post was written on behalf of the NC Raising Wages coalition and was originally published in the The Johnstonian. CNBC recently announced that North Carolina is ranked as the top state for business for the third time in four years. We can all agree that our state’s workers provide…

Helene devastated western North Carolina on September 27th, damaging and destroying infrastructure that left thousands without homes, power, water, and roadways — conditions that persisted for weeks, months, and to the present day. One year later, relief from the state and federal government has been drastically insufficient to address the…

Just Economics’ Living Wage Program Coordinator, Sam Stites’ Op-Ed was published in the Asheville Citizen Times this week! Still healing from years of back-to-back disasters, a hostile government that shows contempt for poor and working people, and an economy built on exclusion from economic prosperity and justice, the growing labor…

What’s happening: At the Asheville City Council meeting on July 29th, city staff presented a plan to consolidate many of the current boards and commissions into four Helene Recovery boards, suspend the regular meetings of the preexisting boards and have them meet only on an “as needed basis.”  Just Economics…

It’s hard to believe that we’re half way through July – 2025 has flown by so far! Like many organizations in Western North Carolina, the first half of the year was filled with disaster recovery efforts and adjustments in our programs in the wake of hurricane Helene. Through staff transitions,…

Just Economics Community Organizer, 40 hours/week  Just Economics of Western North Carolina (JE) is a regional, economic justice membership organization based in Asheville, NC. Just Economics’ mission is to educate, advocate, and organize for a more just and sustainable local economy that works for all in Western North Carolina. We…

By Sam Stites Read Just Economics’ one-page 2025 Legislative Agenda here. The physical forces of Helene that devastated WNC on September 27th caused irreparable damage to our region, and damaged and destroyed infrastructure that left thousands without homes, power, water, and roadways for weeks, months, and to the present day….

Read Just Economics’ full 2025 legislative review here. Right now, local governments in North Carolina are working through their budgets which need to be approved by the end of June. The North Carolina General Assembly is in the midst of the bi-annual long-session where the majority of state policies are…

Just Economics Community Organizer, 40 hours/week  Just Economics of Western North Carolina (JE) is a regional, economic justice membership organization based in Asheville, NC. Just Economics’ mission is to educate, advocate, and organize for a more just and sustainable local economy that works for all in Western North Carolina. We…

2024 has been a year of immense challenges and remarkable resilience and the impacts of Hurricane Helene will be felt across our region for years to come. We are incredibly grateful for the support we’ve received this year. As we look ahead to 2025, we want to take a moment…

What Happened: Last week the NC General Assembly voted on their 3rd relief bill for WNC since Hurricane Helene’s devastation. SB382 was labeled as a disaster relief bill but didn’t provide much disaster relief at all and contained over 100 pages of undemocratic changes to power at the state level….

Labor Day is a federal holiday in the United States celebrated on the first Monday in September. It is a day to honor the contributions of workers to the strength, prosperity and well-being of our country. The history of Labor Day can be traced back to the late 19th century,…