Mitchell County Chamber & EDC Announces Completion of Resilience and Recovery Strategy Report
Study Provided Through Creative Economic Development Consulting’s 2025 Creative Give Back Program
The Mitchell County Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the Mitchell County Economic Development Commission (EDC), is proud to announce the completion of a comprehensive Resilience and Recovery Strategy Report developed by Creative Economic Development Consulting (Creative EDC). The study was awarded to the Chamber as part of Creative EDC’s highly competitive 2025 Creative Give Back initiative, which provides pro bono consulting services to communities with transformative economic development needs.
The report comes in response to the significant economic challenges following Hurricane Helene in September 2024, which caused widespread damage to businesses, infrastructure, and housing across Mitchell County. The study outlines actionable strategies to strengthen economic recovery efforts, support local businesses, and build long-term resilience across the county.
“This report provides a clear and strategic roadmap for not only recovering from the impacts of Hurricane Helene, but for building a stronger, more resilient economy moving forward,” said Bill Slagle, Executive Director of the Mitchell County Chamber & EDC. “We are incredibly grateful to Creative EDC for selecting Mitchell County for this opportunity. Their work validates the strength of our community and gives us practical tools to grow, collaborate, and move forward with confidence.”
A central theme of the report is the creation of a “Mitchell County Collaborative,” a unified approach that brings together key organizations involved in community development, tourism, and economic development. The strategy emphasizes stronger alignment among partners such as the Chamber, EDC, tourism entities, downtown organizations, and small business support groups to maximize impact and efficiency.
The report highlights that in smaller, rural communities like Mitchell County, intentional collaboration is essential. By reducing duplication of efforts, sharing resources, and aligning programs of work, organizations can significantly increase productivity while minimizing costs. The study also points to successful models across North Carolina and beyond, where communities have adopted umbrella or highly coordinated organizational structures—resulting in stronger economic outcomes, clearer communication, and a more unified vision for growth.
Key focus areas of the report include:
- Strengthening collaboration through the proposed Mitchell County Collaborative
- Expanding business retention and growth strategies
- Increasing marketing efforts to promote “shop local” and attract visitors
- Addressing workforce, housing, and infrastructure challenges
- Supporting small business stabilization and expansion
- Identifying opportunities to fill market gaps and diversify the local economy
The report also highlights the measurable impact of recovery efforts already underway. For example, the rebuilding of a single local business, DT’s Blue Ridge Java, is projected to generate 30 jobs and $4.5 million in economic output, demonstrating the powerful ripple effect of reinvestment in the local economy.
“This project represents months of collaboration, data analysis, and input from our local businesses and partners,” said Patti Jensen, Director of Operations for the Mitchell County Chamber. “The insights gained from this report will directly shape our programs, partnerships, and priorities. Just as importantly, it reinforces the value of working together as a unified community. Strong collaboration will allow us to do more with our resources and create lasting impact for Mitchell County.”
Creative EDC’s Creative Give Back program, launched in 2014, selects one community annually for a donated consulting engagement focused on innovative and impactful economic development solutions. The Mitchell County project included economic analysis, business surveys, stakeholder engagement, and strategic planning designed to support both immediate recovery and long-term sustainability.
The Chamber and EDC will begin implementing key recommendations in 2026, including forming the Mitchell County Collaborative, aligning marketing and events across partner organizations, and advancing priority economic development initiatives identified in the report.
For more information or to view the full report, visit mitchellcountychamber.org or contact the Mitchell County Chamber of Commerce at (828) 765-9033.