The Avery County Chamber of Commerce hosted a successful Avery County Business Forum on Tuesday, March 4th, at Appalachian View Event Venue. Over 60 community members and business owners attended the forum to engage in meaningful discussions with representatives from local, state, and federal offices.

Guest Speakers
Justin Somers, Regional Director, Office of U.S. Senator Ted Budd
Dennis Aldridge, Avery County Commissioner
Holly Jones, Director of Governor’s Western Office, Office of Governor Josh Stein
Lake Silver, Regional Field Representative, Office of Congressman Chuck Edwards (NC-11)

Key Discussion Points
During the Q&A session, attendees raised pressing concerns about disaster relief funding delays, citing bureaucratic challenges in securing federal and state assistance for housing, businesses, and agriculture. Many public comments emphasized the urgent need for funding to expedite repairs to the Blue Ridge Parkway, as local businesses heavily rely on traffic from this major attraction for economic stability. There were also discussions about greater flexibility in using occupancy tax revenue during emergencies to aid local recovery. Concerns were voiced over cuts to farm support programs and the broader impact of disasters on infrastructure, tourism, and small businesses, with calls for stronger government response and clearer communication. Additionally, many highlighted the critical role of nonprofits, local government, and community partnerships in rebuilding efforts and fostering long-term economic growth.

New Recovery Dashboard
A new Western North Carolina Recovery Dashboard has been launched to set clear priorities for:

✔ Safe housing restoration

✔ Infrastructure rebuilding

✔ Economic revitalization

🔗 View the dashboard: wncrecovery.nc.gov

 

Public Comment Opportunity
Additionally, the State of North Carolina is seeking public comments on a proposed disaster recovery action plan related to HUD Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) Funding in response to Hurricane Helene.

View the Action Plan & Submit Your Comments:

🔗 Download the proposed plan

Ways to submit public comments (Deadline: March 20, 2025)

Online Survey: Fill out the survey form

Mail:

North Carolina Department of Commerce

4346 Mail Service Center

Raleigh, NC 27699-4346

Attn: CDBG-DR Public Comment

Fax: (919) 715-0096

Email: helene.recovery@commerce.nc.gov

The Avery County Chamber remains committed to working alongside our community partners to push for solutions and support. Thank you to all who attended and contributed to these important discussions!