Another Franklin business fell victim to “the mob” when 30 people descended on Ace Hardware in a massive group. The mob rummaged through the aisles of Ace Hardware with only one goal in mind: To spend at least $20 in the store to show their support for local businesses.

The general idea of a cash mob is to encourage people to go into locally owned small businesses and commit to spending their money, en masse, to give the business owner a little bit of economic stimulus.

Russell Hawkins of the financial services firm Edward Jones has announced his move to a new office at 141 Iotla Street. The new office will open for business on August 20, 2012. The phone number is 828-349-5184.

Hawkins, who has been a financial advisor since 2011, said, “We are excited about our new location, and we are eager for our clients to visit us.”

Edward Jones provides financial services for individual investors in the United States and, through its affiliate, in Canada. Every aspect of the firm's business, from the types of investment options offered to the location of branch offices, is designed to cater to individual investors in the communities in which they live and work. The firm's 12,000-plus financial advisors work directly with nearly seven million clients to understand their personal goals— from college savings to retirement — and create long-term investment solutions that emphasize a well-balanced portfolio and a buy-and-hold strategy.

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The Franklin Main Street Program welcomed The Rusty Rainbow to the district recently with a red carpet ceremony. The Rusty Rainbow is located next to Nantahala Baking & Coffee Co. at the corner of East Main Street and Rogers Street. Owners Hollie Watts and Audrey Lowry feature an eclectic mix of local art and secondhand items at affordable prices. The Rusty Rainbow is open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

Red Carpet Events are an initiative of the Franklin Main Street Program to assist new business owners in spreading the word about their endeavor.

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U.S. Senator Kay Hagan is applauding a new project to support Western North Carolina’s agriculture economy and spur job creation in 23 counties. WNC AgriVentures, a program developed by Advantage West and Land of Sky Regional Council, is launching the project with an $815,000 federal grant, which Hagan supported. The project will help expand WNC’s sustainable agriculture and natural resource industry and support local producers and entrepreneurs. It was announced Aug. 15 at Blue Ridge Food Ventures incubator in Candler.

“Western North Carolina is becoming a powerhouse in the local agriculture and local sustainable food movements,” said Hagan. “I am pleased that this project will allow AgriVentures to continue supporting initiatives that will expand the agriculture industry in our western region. By helping local producers grow their businesses, this project will help put people in WNC back to work.”