Who are the two people that have the most impact on the High Country's outdoor economy? Mother Nature and Old Man Winter! Our opportunities for recreation are not only a magnet for visitors, but they are also a core component of the quality of life that makes this region so attractive to residents.

On this week's Mind Your Business, we hear the latest on the State of the Outdoor Economy. Andy Hill is the Watauga Riverkeeper and Regional Director for Mountain True. He shares the latest on post-storm river cleanup efforts, improved water quality, and the latest on where and what types of fish are biting.

We'll also hear from River Girl Fishing Company's Renata Dos Santos, as she gives an account of the status of the river for tubing and kayaking, what outfitters see daily, and what they need most at this point in our Helene recovery.

We wrap up with Howard Street construction news and details about the sale of a legacy local business.

Mind Your Business is a weekly production of the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce. The program is made possible thanks to sponsorship support from Appalachian Commercial Real Estate.

Catch the show each Thursday morning at 9AM on WATA (1450AM & 96.5FM) in Boone.

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Since when did the stock market start following the High Country weather pattern? If you don't like what you see, wait a few days!

The economic ups and downs of today have an impact on the stability and predictability many High Country businesses. On this week's Mind Your Business, we examine the long-term impacts from the daily financial volatility we see every time we look at the news. We define some "terms of the moment," to provide basic understanding of what we are seeing and look at how today's economic landscape is shaping the hurricane recovery efforts Northwest North Carolina. We get these details and more during our quarterly check-in with Jonathan Allen of Allen Wealth Management.

Next week's groundbreaking on the Howard Street revitalization project has stirred excitement throughout the community. We hear from two long-time Howard Street business owners about their hopes and expectations for the project, and what they need most from customers and the Town of Boone during construction.

Mind Your Business is written and produced weekly by the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce. The program is made possible thanks to the sponsorship support of Appalachian Commercial Real Estate.

Catch the show each Thursday morning at 9AM on WATA (1450AM & 96.5FM) in Boone.

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Boone is soon to check another long-discussed project off the list!

On this week's Mind Your Business, we share the details of the Howard Street Revitalization Project, including information about the groundbreaking ceremony scheduled for April 14th. Lane Moody, Director of the Downtown Boone Development Association discusses project details, communication plans, and how this project has been designed to enhance pedestrian access for both events and day-to-day use.

We also hear the in-the-moment reaction from the 2025 4 Under 40 honorees.

Mind Your Business is a weekly production of the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce. This program is made possible thanks to sponsorship support from Appalachian Commercial Real Estate.

Catch the show each Thursday morning at 9AM on WATA (1450AM & 96.5FM) in Boone.

Support the show

We recorded this episode of Mind Your Business six-months to the day Hurricane Helene made her way through the High Country. We start the program with a message of hope to sew into our daily conversations along with some updates on where progress is emerging.

Earlier this week, Cheap Joes Art Stuff announced its closing the doors on a 40-year run as one of the nation's most popular art supply depots. Joseph Miller joins us to answer the question of why the time to say goodbye is now.

We also recap the 9th-annual 4 Under 40 awards and give the details on the next big Chamber event. Fore!

Mind Your Business is produced weekly by the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce. The program is made possible thanks to the sponsorship support of Appalachian Commercial Real Estate.

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Mind Your Business is back in your inbox this week with a breakdown of the latest Helene recovery bill passed Wednesday by the NC General Assembly and signed into law by Governor Josh Stein. We'll outline some specific local examples of how these helpful dollars will be allocated.

While Helene may still be grabbing the headlines, there are many other core economic and community development projects that are ongoing. This year's legislative calendar could yield some significant progress for the childcare industry. One local business is taking a key point of action and advancing it forward before the legislature gets involved. Hear the story of Kid Cove, and Halee Hartley's recent announcement of a new benefit she is providing for the workforce behind the workforce.

Mind Your Business is a weekly production of the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce, made possible through the sponsorship support of Appalachian Commercial Real Estate.

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Mind Your Business is back and loaded with information this week.

We start with a recap of North Carolina Governor Josh Stein's State of the State address, along with updates on Helene recovery activities working through local and State government channels.

Speaking of local government, Watauga County has partnered with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Aerostar to expedite debris removal from waterways and private property. Watauga County Emergency Management Director, Will Holt, Darlene Abbot, Project Manager for Aerostar, joined WATA's Mark in the Morning for a detailed discussion around the program, including details on how commercial and residential property owners can access this free service.

We end the show with a visit with an old friend.

Dr. Scott Elliott is locally known as the longtime Superintendent of Watauga County Schools and former Director of Development for Blue Ridge Conservancy. He now serves as Deputy Director of Engagement for GROW NC, working throughout the western region on hurricane recovery efforts. We'll hear about the mission of this new organization, what Governor Stein's priorities are for the work of this office, and how local residents can interact with the agency.

Mind Your Business is a weekly production of the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce. The show is made possible thanks to the sponsorship support of Appalachian Commercial Real Estate.

Visit GROW NC online at www.wncrecovery.nc.gov.

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Mind Your Business is back with a new format and a metric ton of High Country News!

We start on campus where Dr. Heather Norris was announced today as the 8th Chancellor in Appalachian State University's history. We were granted a one-on-one interview with Chancellor Norris following her appointment, where she talks about her Chamber roots and the role of campus as a positive and supportive partner for the High Country community.

In the wake of Hurricane Helene, the snow sports industry has provided a much needed boost to our region's economic recovery. Talia Freeman, Director of Marketing at Beech Mountain Resort, talks about the impact of cold weather on the success of the slopes, and what she hears from visitors as they return to the mountains. Talia also details the upcoming Runs for Buns fundraising weekend, and gives some inspiration for those businesses looking to find their philanthropic cause.

We also have information about the third round of the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce Foundation's Hope for the High Country: Business Resiliency Disaster Grant program.

Mind Your Business is a weekly production of the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce. The show is made possible through the sponsorship support of Appalachian Commercial Real Estate.

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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 this week's Mind Your Business, we will hear directly from Governor Stein about this program and we will break down eligibility criteria in great detail. We will also hear from other involved with the program as they explain how small businesses in our region can benefit from these available funds.

Mind Your Business is a weekly production of the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce. It is made possible each week thanks to the sponsorship support of Appalachian Commercial Real Estate.

Support the show