Economic
Development & Consulting

Creative Thinking.
Real-World Problem Solving.

Smithson Mills is an accomplished advocate and researcher for agricultural and rural economic development projects. He works closely with community nonprofits, businesses and government organizations. Key areas of expertise focus on community-based economic development strategies including shared use commercial kitchens; value added processing for foods, cosmetics and natural products; and farmland preservation plans.

Project Management & Consulting

Project Management & Business Formation

Smithson was the principal developer for Blue Ridge Food Ventures, the largest shared-use food processing center in the Southeast and one of the nation’s most successful of its kind. He has also served as the executive director for the Center for Agricultural and Food Entrepreneurship, the nonprofit parent organization for Blue Ridge Food Ventures, and WNC FoodWorks, an entry-level shared facility located at the WNC Farmers Market in Asheville, North Carolina. Smithson was featured in Edible Asheville for his work with Blue Ridge Food Ventures, you can read the article here.

Smithson assists local governments and nonprofits in executing comprehensive feasibility studies to determine the viability of rural economic development strategies.

Trade & Intercultural Understanding

Smithson worked for over a decade in international trade, with more than 4 years living and working in Asia. He served as North Carolina’s Asian trade specialist for agricultural products for 6 years. He has lived in Taiwan, China, and Mexico and is proficient in Mandarin Chinese and basic Spanish.

Professional Qualifications

Since 1994, Smithson has worked as an economic development professional in various capacities. He is experienced in project management, public funding, grants management, and leadership training. After 30 years of professional work, he now enjoys taking on projects selectively that are a good fit for both the client and his personal work goals. He is motivated to work on socially beneficial development efforts with measurable outcomes and a good vision for viable results.

Highlights

  • Working in government and nonprofit economic development in North Carolina since 1994.
  • 6 years as executive director for a North Carolina nonprofit.
  • 17 years consulting for food and agricultural development projects in the southeast and nationally.
  • 10 years of international work focusing on Greater China and East Asia.
  • Solid business instructional experience, including multi-day and full-day programs on grant writing and community-based economic development.

Project & Funding Development

  • Lead developer for the Center for Agricultural and Food Entrepreneurship, a 501(c)(3) established to support food-related business and job creation. Organized the board, wrote and managed grants, hired staff, and developed budgets. Served as Executive Director, 2017-2021.
  • Lead project developer for Blue Ridge Food Ventures. Responsible for strategic planning, fundraising, construction oversight, staffing development, management policies, and ongoing funder relations (2002-2005, 2015-2017)
  • Lead project developer for Foothills Pilot Plant, a small-scale USDA poultry processing facility serving independent local farmers in the southern Appalachian region. Executed feasibility study, raised $1M in seed funding, and oversaw project launch (2007-2012)
  • Lead project investigator for 10 feasibility studies for shared-use food processing centers nationwide and overseas.
  • Contract grant writer for local governments, nonprofits, and state agencies, raising approximately $20 million from federal, state, and private foundation sources (2005-2023)
  • Contract grants officer for the NC Tobacco Trust Fund Commission in support of more than $25M in total giving (2006-2015)
  • Lead project developer for WNC FoodWorks at the WNC Farmers Market, overseeing a $2.2 million construction budget with federal, state, and private foundation support (2018-2023).

Business & Leadership Training

  • Faculty instructor for the NC Rural Economic Development Institute, an annual 9-day intensive economic development training program in Raleigh NC (2011-2018)
  • Community coach for the NC Small Towns Economic Prosperity Program (NC STEP), with 18-month assignments to provide training and consultation to small-town leaders in rural NC (2010-2013)
  • Developed and taught multi-day grant writing workshops to municipal managers, nonprofit leaders, and entrepreneurs statewide through state economic development agencies (2009-2012)

International Trade & Intercultural Understanding

  • Promoted exports of US food and agricultural projects to emerging markets in East Asia, creating channels for >$10M in export trade (1994-2001)
  • Conversant in Mandarin Chinese, nearly 4 years living and working in Taiwan and P.R. China 

Employment

2005-present

Independent Consultant

Self Employed/Smithson Mills, Inc.

2015-2021

Executive Director

CAFÉ/WNC Blue Ridge Food Ventures

2005-2009

Director

Center for Assessment & Research Alliances, Mars Hill College

2001-2005

Agribusiness Developer

NC Dept. of Agriculture & Consumer Services

1994-1996, 1998-2001

Asian Trade Specialist

NC Dept. of Agriculture & Consumer Services

Education & Certification

1994

MA, International Policy Studies with Specialization in Chinese, Monterey Institute of International Studies

1989 

BA, Religion, UNC-Chapel Hill

2001

Graduate, Rural Economic Development Institute, NC Rural Center

2021-2024

Licensed as a General Contractor in the State of North Carolina

Additional Reading

Daring to Dream by Kay West, Edible Asheville, Fall 2022. The cover photo of Smithson was taken for this article by Erin Adams. Read the full article.

Capital at Play Interview, 2018. Read the full interview.