...Brigding the divide-

1. MEDIA CONTACT:
Stephanie Swepson Twitty
Executive Director
Eagle Market Streets Development Corporation
stephanie.emsdc@gmail.com
828.281.1227
Eagle Market Streets Development Corporation Has Big Plans for the Old Fort
Community Building
Education, Workforce Development, and Inclusivity in Downtown Old Fort, N.C.
Old Fort, N.C. (January 10, 2022) –Can a revitalized building be an economic development
tool for the entire community of Old Fort and potentially the cornerstone of revitalization and
job creation? Eagle Market Streets Development Corporation is excited about that potential
and is doing their part to make it happen as they recently partnered to purchase a 60,000
square foot warehouse in the center of Old Fort, NC. Their plan includes developing half of
the building into a community center, an academy for industrial sewing, retail shops and light
manufacturing space for startup businesses. The other half will be occupied by Kitsbow, a
company manufacturing premium cycling clothing and accessories. Their space will be used
for training industrial sewing, as well as expanding production, for decades to come.
For over 28 years, Eagle Market Streets Development Corporation (EMSDC) has been a non-profit
501c(3) based in Western North Carolina serving the Asheville Buncombe community in property
development, economic development and access to human services. Both Kitsbow and EMSDC
share common goals of economic development in downtown Old Fort, which has begun to
blossom since the arrival of Kitsbow and Hillman Beer in 2019. The Old Fort Community Building
will provide education and training to help local residents to develop their careers, in collaboration
with McDowell Technical Community College. EMSDC is already supporting budding
entrepreneurs through existing programs, and the Old Fort Community Building will provide
additional space for entrepreneurs as they grow.
Additional tenants – including both businesses and non-profit organizations – will be welcome
to apply to lease space in the building provided their business or organization’s “corporate
social responsibility attributes” are consistent with the overall vision for the Old Fort Community
Building. Priority will be given to organizations that are led by women, people of color,
underrepresented communities, and/or employee owned.

2. The Old Fort Community Building
Version: 6
January 3, 2022
Confidential 415-448-5246 59 Commerce St
Kitsbow Cycling Apparel Old Fort, NC 28762

3. One concept of what the warehouse in downtown Old Fort could become with thoughtful
development (image courtesy of Kitsbow)
“This partnership between Kitsbow and EMSDC is an opportunity to ensure that there is
affordable and beautiful commercial space in a vibrant commercial corridor of Old Fort’s
downtown, available to entrepreneurs from underrepresented communities,” stated Stephanie
Swepson-Twitty, CEO of Eagle Market Streets Development Corporation and a resident of Old
Fort. “We are committed to including community input to the design of the space, and ensuring
this space is a resource in our town that we can all feel pride for.”
“The leaders at Kitsbow got to know Stephanie and the work EMSDC has done through our
collaboration on the former mural building now the Catawba Vale Business HUB, main street
downtown Old Fort, and then again with the Old Fort Trails Project, a collaboration with the
Catawba Vale Collaborative, Camp Grier, People on the Move Old Fort and the US Forest
Service Grandfather District. Frankly, we leapt at the opportunity to collaborate with EMSDC on
expansion space for our business,” explained David Billstrom, CEO. He added, “Our leaders at
Kitsbow embrace social and public good in every way they can, and this is another pathway to
combine capitalism with something wonderful for the community.”
So how does this project contribute to the overall economic development and prosperity of
Old Fort? The direct impact of downtown revitalization projects on local economies is well
documented and includes significant benefits such as job creation and increased property
values. At the end of the day, EMSDC remains focused on positively impacting Western North
Carolina communities through economic opportunities, and this project is set to do just that!
A schedule for the planning and development of the building will be available soon. To apply to
lease a space or otherwise participate in the building, please contact stephanie.emsdc@gmail.com.
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