North Asheville Library Manager Completes LEAF Fellowship to Boost Entrepreneur Services

Matt Phillips, branch manager at North Asheville Library, completed the Libraries for Entrepreneurial Advancement Fellowship (LEAF) run by NC IDEA on January 15, 2026. The program trains library staff to support entrepreneurs, and Phillips used the Libraries Build Business Playbook and related frameworks to shape new services that connect local businesses with library databases and business research tools.

Library Services Manager Jaime McDowell praised the effort and said the library already provides databases and resources but needs to make them more accessible to busy small-business owners. The fellowship included direct interactions with local entrepreneurs, including John French of the Appalachian Pinball Museum, and covered practical lessons such as how to evaluate grants and loans. Those hands-on sessions gave Phillips concrete, locally relevant examples to inform the library’s approach.

Public libraries serve as low-cost, high-leverage infrastructure in a small-business ecosystem where start-ups and microenterprises often face tight margins and limited access to professional research. By aligning LEAF training with Buncombe County Library resources, Phillips aims to lower information barriers that can slow business planning and funding decisions. Improved navigation of market data, grant databases, and loan evaluation tools can shorten research time for owners and reduce reliance on paid consultants.

The county encourages entrepreneurs interested in library business resources to contact Matt Phillips at the Buncombe County Library for assistance. That outreach is intended to turn one-on-one help and curated research into measurable outcomes for local enterprises, from improving grant applications to clarifying loan terms and assessing market demand.

For North Asheville and surrounding neighborhoods, the initiative promises more practical, in-person support for people launching or scaling businesses. The inclusion of community businesses such as the Appalachian Pinball Museum in the fellowship work underscores a focus on locally rooted firms and creative vendors that make Asheville’s economy distinctive.

As Phillips implements the Playbook frameworks, residents can expect the library to serve as a more active partner in small-business development. For entrepreneurs juggling operations, payroll, and marketing, quicker access to reliable business research and funding guidance could mean faster decisions and stronger applications for grants or loans. Contacting the North Asheville branch to request assistance will be the first practical step for owners seeking that support.