There’s something happening in Asheville that every small city should take note of. Over thirty-six hundred remote workers now call Asheville home. And that’s no accident. This community of remote professionals is proving to be one of the most promising ways for smaller markets like ours to fill critical talent gaps.

Unlike major metros where innovation often flows from connections built at huge companies—think Instagram coming out of Facebook or ex-Googlers teaming up to launch startups—Asheville doesn’t have that luxury. Our biggest employers are government and healthcare. They’re great, but they don’t typically spin out entrepreneurs. We just don’t have that kind of innovation flywheel here.

Enter AVL Digital Nomads.

These are folks who bring with them the skills, networks, and experience from working in high-growth environments—without needing to relocate a whole company. They plug into coworking spaces like Hatch, join meetups, and before you know it, they’re mentoring startups, building ventures, and contributing to our economy in ways that just weren’t possible before.

What we’re witnessing is the emergence of a new kind of flywheel—one fueled by mobility, flexibility, and community. With the right infrastructure, like a strong entrepreneurial ecosystem and welcoming support networks, Asheville is becoming more than just a place to visit. It’s becoming a place to build.

And that’s the real story. Not just that remote workers are moving here, but that they’re staying, contributing, and helping transform our region’s entrepreneurial future.