WNC: MADE X MTNS Partnership launches transformative program to support communities across 25 counties in developing their outdoor economies
WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA, NC – JULY 12, 2022 – The WNC: MADE X MTNS Partnership is launching a new outdoor-driven community economic development initiative, Building Outdoor Communities (BOC), spanning 25 Western North Carolina counties and the Qualla Boundary. Building Outdoor Communities focuses on capacity building, technical assistance, training, connectivity, and education for communities seeking to advance their outdoor economy goals. The program begins with a community open house series in August, and will formally launch with a workshop in Boone, NC on September 19-20, 2022. Program applications open Tuesday, July 12th and will close on Friday, August 26th. The schedule of events, application details, and event registration are all available on the MADE X MTNS Building Outdoor Communities webpage.
The WNC: MADE X MTNS Building Outdoor Communities Program is funded through the Appalachian Regional Commission’s POWER (Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization) initiative, with support from Mountain BizWorks and the Dogwood Health Trust, as well as numerous regional stakeholders.
“Overwhelmingly, rural community leaders see the value and importance of leveraging and caring for their outdoor assets. This program will provide them with targeted assistance to assess, analyze, and prioritize outdoor infrastructure investments, grow their outdoor economies, and truly take WNC to the next level as the Outdoor Industry Hub of the East,” says Noah Wilson, Mountain BizWorks’ Director of Sector Development.
In partnership with Appalachian State University’s Center for Economic Research and Policy Analysis, six regional Councils of Government, and West Virginia University’s Brad & Alys Smith Outdoor Economic Development Collaborative, the Building Outdoor Communities program team will coordinate with local Community Working Groups to strategically assess and prioritize outdoor infrastructure and economic development goals and forge pathways to implementation. The team will create an outdoor economic impact toolkit, so community leaders can be equipped with data to leverage future project investments. Community Working Groups that successfully complete the capacity building portion of the program are eligible for technical assistance funds to advance their community’s top priorities.
“The NC Appalachian Regional Commission program is excited by the potential of this initiative to create investment-ready outdoor infrastructure projects that can catalyze greater talent attraction and economic development opportunities across the region,” says Olivia Collier, NC ARC Program Director.
The September 19-20 program Launch Event & Workshop is open to WNC stakeholders seeking to engage within Community Working Groups throughout the duration of the program. To stay in-the-know about program updates, key events, and major milestones, join the Building Outdoor Communities mailing list.
