By Kimberly King
ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — A new 117-page plan outlines a long-term strategy for rebuilding western North Carolina following Helene, with housing, workforce recovery, infrastructure and small-business support among the region’s top priorities.
Governor Josh Stein and the Governor’s Recovery Office of Western North Carolina (GROW NC) unveiled the Western North Carolina Economic Recovery Plan, which covers 28 counties and identifies areas where local leaders say additional state and federal resources are still needed.
One of the plan’s key priorities is job recovery. The report says the hardest-hit counties lost more than 16,000 workers following Helene.
State Senator Kevin Corbin of Macon County, who co-chairs the Recovery Advisory Committee, says rebuilding the regional economy will be central to the recovery.
“A big part of this resilience plan is to work toward improving the economy, improving jobs,” Corbin said.
