Industry isn't swarming into western North Carolina, but tourism attracts lots of visitors, positioning local businesses as the economic heartbeat of the area.

So Carolina Mountains Credit Union, a division of $564 million Self-Help Credit Union in Ashville, N.C., has launched a program allowing members to invest in a certificate of deposit aimed at financing local green businesses, community economic development projects and women and minority mortgage borrowers in western North Carolina.

Actually, Carolina Mountains has been investing in local businesses since 1974. The list includes firms such as Blue Ridge Biofuel, Casa del Bambini, West End Bakery, French Bread Food Co-Op and Glen Rock Commercial Building. But the local focus has been kicked up a notch through a partnership with Asheville Grows and a Go Local campaign.

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