Ashley Anderson helps North Carolina communities build and finance sustainable futures through smart community economic development.

She works with local governments across North Carolina, with a practice focused on general local government matters, community economic development, and public finance. Ms. Anderson partners closely with clients to identify opportunities that align commercial success with public policy objectives. Her strengths lie in clearly presenting options, first educating stakeholders on possibilities and limitations, and recommending the best course of action.

Ms. Anderson’s interest in local government began during high school, when she saved her family’s seventh-generation farm from potential development and then represented her family at local government meetings where the use of their farm was at issue. Today, she helps clients navigate the legal and practical issues related to project finance, downtown revitalization, development incentives, public-private partnerships, contract negotiation, and zoning and land use. She believes that successful projects require stakeholders to find the right balance between honoring the past and embracing progress, while also considering each community’s unique history.

With experience serving as bond counsel, Ms. Anderson regularly assists localities with their funding needs for public infrastructure, economic development projects, and capital improvement initiatives.

She particularly enjoys working with first-time and infrequent borrowers. Her clients appreciate her ability to turn potentially stressful situations into manageable, or even enjoyable, experiences while delivering creative solutions that align with both public- and private-sector goals.  Ms. Anderson earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Meredith College and a law degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.