Ashley L. Anderson

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

She works with local governments across North Carolina, focusing her practice on public finance and community economic development. Ashley works closely with clients to identify opportunities that build common ground between commercial success and public policy objectives. Her strength lies in clearly presenting options to her clients, first educating stakeholders on possibilities and limitations, and then recommending the best course of action.

Ashley’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. Now, as a member of Sands Anderson’s Government Group, Ashley helps clients navigate the legal and practical issues related to project finance, downtown revitalization, development incentives, local government representation, public-private partnerships, contract negotiation, and zoning and land use. She believes that successful projects require stakeholders to find the proper balance between the past and progress, while also considering a community’s unique history.

Experienced in serving as bond counsel,  Ashley 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 enjoyable experiences, while also offering creative solutions that align with both public- and private-sector goals.

Beyond her professional pursuits, Ashley finds joy in spending time on the small family farm where she was born and raised. She also enjoys needlepoint, tending to her garden, and is currently working to obtain her private pilot’s license.