About Appalachian Women Entrepreneurs (AWE)

Economic development in western North Carolina communities

A program of HandMade in America, the Appalachian Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) project is a great example of how HandMade has been actively and creatively engaged in community-based economic development efforts around the craft industry in western North Carolina since the early 1990's.

Corporate Support for HandMade in America's programs

With the generous support of the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation and the Tides Foundation, HandMade developed the AWE program to connect and support rural western North Carolina women interested in creating or growing their small business. Many of these businesses are involved with the craft industry but certainly not all.

Business women networks support entrepreneurship

To help overcome the obstacles to entrepreneurship often encountered in rural areas, networks were developed in several rural WNC communities for the purposes of connecting the women to other women engaged in similar entrepreneurial efforts and of providing access to business support services the women might not be able to find, afford, or access without the network.