Governor Josh Stein unveiled a long-term economic recovery plan for western North Carolina today in Chimney Rock, calling on Congress for a $10 billion appropriation to support the next phase of recovery, including $1.5 billion for economic development.
The Western North Carolina Economic Recovery Plan identifies five core areas: strengthening the workforce, expanding transportation connectivity, promoting tourism and outdoor recreation, growing local agriculture and food processing, and supporting local leadership. The plan was built with input from 28 counties, the Qualla Boundary, five regional councils of government, chambers of commerce, and economic development organizations.
Sharon Decker, GROW NC's Senior Advisor for Long-Term Recovery, said the plan represents a regional approach: "What we've lacked is one place where the region's own priorities line up with the money to back them and the people who can act on them. Counties, chambers, community colleges, business owners, and councils of government built it, and the work now belongs to them."
The state is already implementing aspects of the plan. The U.S. Economic Development Administration awarded the state $34.2 million in grants for advanced manufacturing expansion, including construction of the Futures Factory, a 70,000-square-foot workforce and innovation hub in Buncombe County. The state also launched the Good Jobs WNC program, a partnership between 11 community colleges designed to connect 1,200 people to jobs with family-supporting wages, and announced $3 million in philanthropic commitments to apprenticeship programs.
Recovery metrics show significant progress since Hurricane Helene. As of July, 99 percent of drinking water systems damaged by the storm have been fully restored, though $758 million in unmet federal needs remain for full repairs and resilience improvements. More than 99 percent of roads closed or impacted by the hurricane are now reopened. The state has awarded more than $105 million in grants and loans to nearly 3,000 small businesses, supporting nearly 15,000 jobs. Last month, Governor Stein announced 828 new affordable rental housing units in the region.
Governor Stein is calling on Congress to approve the $10 billion appropriation, which would also support small business recovery, local government needs, dam and streambank restoration, private road and bridge reconstruction, and federal highway repairs.