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 guest. As expected, we will discuss the county's role in hurricane relief and we'll also update the list of projects that were in queue prior to the storm. Chairman Eggers will also address economic development priorities, school construction, and other projects that could come to the top of discussions in 2025.

Mind Your Business is a weekly production of 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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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 Street development project, and the approval and eventual rollout of Boone Next.

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

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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:
Casey Gilbert, Vice President of Public Policy, Asheville Chamber of Commerce
Kim Effler, President/CEO, McDowell Chamber of Commerce
Robin Morgan, Executive Director, Avery County Chamber of Commerce
Kitty Honeycutt, Executive Director, Ashe County Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center.
Panel moderated by David Jackson, President/CEO, Boone Area Chamber of Commerce

Our panel will discuss current conditions in each community, silver linings that have developed since the storm, and how can people provide impactful help at this time.

Each community is working on local fundrasing initiatives for individual and business support:

Asheville Chamber of Commerce: - Mountain Strong Fund for Small Business Recovery
McDowell County Chamber of Commerce - Hurricane Helene Business Relief
Avery County Chamber of Commerce - Avery County Business Recovery Fund
Ashe County Chamber of Commerce - Ashe County Advantage Project
Boone Area Chamber of Commerce - Hurricane Helene Business Resiliency Disaster Grants

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.

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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 Management. We'll discuss the potential economics of a second Trump Presidency, which includes a comparison to the normal influences when a Republican is in the White House. We'll also discuss impacts on tax policy along with some end of 2024 tax strategies that you may want to consider as the year comes to a close.

In addition, we discuss upcoming grant deadlines, including a new grant from Lowe's Hardware.

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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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 an update on the application process for the Chamber Foundation's Business Resiliency Disaster Grant program.

Our guests on this week's show include a collection of FEMA team members based here in Watauga County. We'll hear about an upcoming deadline for the Individual Assistance Program, as well as answers to some frequently asked questions about the application process.

Mind Your Business is produced when we don't have natural disasters by the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce. The show is made possible thanks to the sponsorship support of Appalachian Commercial Real Estate.

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

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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)

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Candidates for Watauga County Board of Education

• Marshall Ashcraft (I)
• Chad Cole
• Adam Hege
• Allison Idol
• Charlotte Mizelle Lloyd
• Tom Ross

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