It's been nearly two years since Hurricane Helene's impact was felt across Western North Carolina.

In January 2025, Governor Josh Stein appointed a special Advisory Committee for Western North Carolina Recovery and established GROW NC (Governor's Recovery Office for Western North Carolina) to serve as the lead organization to guide immediate physical and economic recovery efforts.

In early 2026, a sub-committee was formed to examine the region's long term economic outlook, and make recommendations to Governor Stein and State leaders that would set Western North Carolina down a path toward recovery and future economic prosperity.

On Wednesday, September 23, 2026, Governor Stein and GROW NC released the Western North Carolina Economic Recovery Plan, a document that focuses on eight core principles that harness current resources and industry proficiency, while aligning goals that will advance the region's efforts to create economic diversity and resilience across all sectors.

On this week's Mind Your Business, we unveil the core tenants of the plan, and how the High Country is poised to benefit from this collaborative effort. We'll also talk with Dan Gerlach, a long-time economic strategist and policy advisor in the State about the research that led to the plan. He'll explain how this framework can build off current regional strengths while protecting a unique cultural experience that separates Western North Carolina from many other parts of the country.

Mind Your Business is written and produced weekly by the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce. This podcast is made possible thanks to the sponsorship support of Appalachian Commercial Real Estate.

Catch the show each Thursday afternoon at 5PM on WATA (1450AM & 96.5FM) in Boone.

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