Small businesses throughout Western North Carolina are closer to much needed financial relief. On Friday, January 31, 2025, North Carolina Governor Josh Stein was in Boone and announced the creation of a pool of $30M for the Western North Carolina Small Business Initiative II, a grant program for eligible businesses in Helene-impacted counties. On …

On January 16, 2025, the Boone Area and Blowing Rock Chambers of Commerce hosted the 9th annual High Country Economic Kickoff Luncheon, in front of a sold out audience at Appalachian State's Grandview Ballroom. On this week's Mind Your Business, we hear the annual High Country Economic Forecast from Dr. Harry Davis, Regional Economist and Dean of t…

On January 17, 2024, the Mind Your Business podcast was on-location in Swannanoa, NC, one of the most devastated communities in Western North Carolina from the impacts of Hurricane Helene. The Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce hosted a regionally focused panel discussion entitled Business Voices for WNC Recovery. In addition to remarks from Chambe…

We continue to fill your pre-holiday stockings with year-in-review content -- a perfect listen while you are wrapping gifts or cleaning before the in-laws arrive! This week's Mind Your Business puts the focus on the year that was for Watauga County. Newly sworn Chairman of the Watauga County Board of Commissioners, Braxton Eggers, is this week's gu…

Tis the season for year in review content, and we will not disappoint! Over the next few weeks, our Mind Your Business episodes will feature local leaders with conversation around the year in review, but also what is to come in 2025. Our first guest is Town of Boone Mayor Tim Futrelle. We will discuss Helene recovery, the recently approved Howard S…

The question continues to get asked - "What are the current needs in Western North Carolina?" We have dedicated this week's episode of Mind Your Business to answering that question, with discussion straight from the community leaders that are working in the ever-evolving trenches of Hurricane Helene recovery. This week's panel of guests include: Ca…

So, why not add an election on to the list of "things we are dealing with," in our local economy? Election transition always brings changes that impact our economy, but that is especially magnified when there is change at the top of the ticket. On this week's Mind Your Business, we have our quarterly chat with Jonathan Allen of Allen Wealth Managem…

Welcome back!! Thanks for staying tuned to Mind Your Business during this time of hurricane recovery. We are excited to be back on our regular recording schedule. On this week's episode, we will provide updates on the timeline for disaster recovery dollars that are being allocated to our region from Federal and State resources. We'll also provide a…

Latest updates from the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce regarding community response needs. Support the showDavid Jackson

Candidates for Watauga County Board of Education Marshall Ashcraft (I) Chad Cole Adam Hege Allison Idol Charlotte Mizelle Lloyd Tom Ross Support the showDavid Jackson

Candidates for Watauga County Commissioners District 3 Braxton Eggers (R) Jon Council (U) District 4 Charlie Wallin (D) (I) Ronnie Marsh (R) District 5 Sue Sweeting (D) Todd Castle (R) Support the showDavid Jackson

NC House & Senate House District 93 Ben Massey (D) Ray Pickett (R) (I) Support the showDavid Jackson

Candidates for US House of Representatives Chuck Hubbard (D) Virginia Foxx (R) (I) Support the showDavid Jackson

The Boone Area Chamber of Commerce has been busy over these last few weeks! On this week's Mind Your Business, we bring you a recap from the 2024 Spirit of Boone Annual Membership gathering, complete with an audio tribute to our nine community award winners. We also share some post-event details on the 2024 Meet the Candidates forum, including info…

The impact of funding for childcare across North Carolina has a ripple effect that is felt across nearly every business across the State. Locally, childcare centers are trying to meet the needs of families, and the local workforce, while funding challenges still impact day-to-day operations. On this week's Mind Your Business, we visit with Elisha C…

This episode can't be any more "chamber," if it tried! On this week's Mind Your Business, we focus on some key timing around open enrollment for health insurance. Wayne Randall, Director of the Boone Center for Blue Cross & Blue Shield of North Carolina will go over dates and details. This is helpful information for employers to share with employee…

Everyone else is going back to school -- maybe you should too! The Watauga Leadership Institute presents Encore, its latest professional development program aimed at helping people continue their journey in leadership. While this class may not keep you in school all day, or present an avenue to enjoy that tasty square pizza, it will provide leaders…

Election season is fast approaching, and more conversation about election process and integrity has become part of our daily lives than ever before. On this week's Mind Your Business, we visit with Matt Snyder, Director of the Watauga County Board of Elections. He will provide details on the voting process for Watauga County Commissioner in the 202…

Yesterday, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell announced that the federal funds rate will hold steady -- for now. Is a long-anticipated change to interest rates on the horizon? If so, what does that mean for us here in Northwest North Carolina? On this week's Mind Your Business, we bring you are most timely quarterly check-in with Jonathan Allen of…

Been out and about this summer and feel a little detached from the goings on of Boone and the High Country? On this week's Mind Your Business, get updates on community conversations focused on parking and childcare. Plus, get the scoop on upcoming Chamber events like the Meet the Candidates Forum and Spirit of Boone. We will also share information …

Access to healthcare is one of the most important topics people consider when moving to a new area. We have been fortunate to see heathcare evolve in a positive way here in the mountains of northwest North Carolina, with new practices bringing service enhancements to our area that benefit all ages and health conditions. On this week's Mind Your Bus…

BONUS CONTENT ALERT!! The North Carolina General Assembly is in recess and we have a few short updates about what has transpired in Raleigh over the past few weeks and months. The main focus of this bonus installment of Mind Your Business centers around Early Childhood Education, and action taken by the NC House and Senate to extend compensation gr…

The Round-Up for the Greenway is an annual community-wide fundraiser partnering with local Watauga County businesses to help fund the continued construction of the Middle Fork Greenway, a project of the Blue Ridge Conservancy. During the month of July, businesses ask their customers to Round Up to the nearest dollar. Last year, 56 local businesses,…

Call this the Town of Boone episode of Mind Your Business, as the bulk of the program is dedicated to the Boone Next project, a revisioning of the Town's Comprehensive Development plan. This week we hear from Jane Shook, Director of Planning & Inspections, and Jessica Mitchell, Advanced Planning Specialist, with the Town of Boone. They update the t…

Summer tourism season is in full swing in the High Country! Yes, there may be extra traffic, but in a community that's built on volume, the summer dollars mean our favorite local businesses can afford to operate year-around. On this week's episode of Mind Your Business we examine the impact of the tourism economy on our local community. How do tour…

Integration of AI and emerging technology are on just about every channel, pretty much all the time! How do small businesses and their employees begin to use these tools to their advantage? What are the simplest ways to turn efficiency into effectivness when it comes to "learning new things," in the technology arena. We got to these questions and m…

There's a new bank in town! A few weeks ago, we celebrated the grand opening of the new full-service branch of New People's Bank in Boone. After operating a loan production office in the High Country for a few years, they have settled into their new location on Wilson Drive in the Winkler's Crossing shopping center! On this week's Mind Your Busines…

Spring has arrived in the High Country and that means festival season is here! Boonerang is back for year three, with new and expanded features that will bring thousands of festival enthusiasts to the streets of Downtown Boone, June 13-15, 2024. On this week's Mind Your Business we visit with Mark Freed, Director of Cultural Resources for the Town …

Ater several months of research and over 700 points of stakeholder engagement, the Watauga County Childcare Study is complete. On this week's Mind Your Business, we breakdown the numbers that relate to the key county demographics and trends that fuel the need for early childhood and afterschool care in Watauga County. We'll then get further context…

We are inching closer to the 8th annual Boone Area Chamber of Commerce 4 Under 40 Awards. This year's event takes place at the historic Appalachian Theatre of the High Country, Wednesday, April 24th, with a full red-carpet experience beginning at 5:30PM. You can read more about this year's event and our 16 honorees here. Before we recognize the 4 U…