Two years after catastrophic flooding dismantled the local retail and hospitality corridor along the Rocky Broad River gorge, Chimney Rock Village’s business community is receiving a targeted $5.5 million capital injection from the state to restore essential commercial operations.
Governor Josh Stein and First Lady Anna Stein toured the village’s commercial spine on Saturday, meeting with business owners to assess progress under the newly released Western North Carolina Economic Recovery Plan. The regional blueprint targets long-term business retention, downtown infrastructure, and sustainable commerce across 28 western counties and the Qualla Boundary.
Direct Capital for Village Merchants
The $5.5 million grant, administered through the North Carolina Department of Commerce, directly finances key downtown infrastructure projects required for retail shops, restaurants, and outdoor outfitters to safely reopen, draw foot traffic, and resume revenue-generating operations.
Key commercial investments funded by the grant include:
East Gateway Streetscape: Reconstructing critical pedestrian infrastructure, lighting, and sidewalks to reconnect commercial parcels and restore customer mobility.
Commercial Access & Customer Parking: Re-establishing stabilized parking corridors and Main Street storefront accessibility.
Core Utility Reconnections: Upgrading water, sewer, and power infrastructure directly to commercial property lines so private enterprise owners can complete internal build-outs.
The business-focused allocation works in tandem with foundational state utility investments, including nearly $13 million dedicated to municipal water and sewer system resilience and approximately $1.7 million in primary road rebuilding.
Long-Term Regional Economic Blueprint
The Chimney Rock site visit highlights the state’s broader economic framework for mountain business districts recovering from storm losses. While emergency stabilization is complete—with more than 99% of storm-impacted roads and public water systems restored across the region—the new economic plan establishes 5- and 10-year growth metrics designed to safeguard regional enterprise.
Core pillars of the economic plan include:
Small Business & Workforce Resiliency: Capital grants, technical assistance, and retention programs tailored to mountain enterprises.
Tourism & Destination Commerce: Restoring outdoor recreation infrastructure and rebuilding destination marketing to drive visitor spending back into mountain hubs.
Logistics & Regional Connectivity: Long-term capital improvements to commercial highway corridors, freight rail, and regional transit lines.
For the merchants of Chimney Rock, restoring core infrastructure marks the pivot from disaster response to active economic vitality.
Chimney Rock -- September 28, 2026: Two years after catastrophic flooding dismantled the local retail and hospitality corridor along the Rocky Broad River gorge, Chimney Rock Village’s business community is receiving a targeted $5.5 million capital injection from the state to restore essential commercial operations.
Governor Josh Stein and First Lady Anna Stein toured the village’s commercial spine on Saturday, meeting with business owners to assess progress under the newly released Western North Carolina Economic Recovery Plan. The regional blueprint targets long-term business retention, downtown infrastructure, and sustainable commerce across 28 western counties and the Qualla Boundary.
Direct Capital for Village Merchants
The $5.5 million grant, administered through the North Carolina Department of Commerce, directly finances key downtown infrastructure projects required for retail shops, restaurants, and outdoor outfitters to safely reopen, draw foot traffic, and resume revenue-generating operations.
Key commercial investments funded by the grant include:
East Gateway Streetscape: Reconstructing critical pedestrian infrastructure, lighting, and sidewalks to reconnect commercial parcels and restore customer mobility.
Commercial Access & Customer Parking: Re-establishing stabilized parking corridors and Main Street storefront accessibility.
Core Utility Reconnections: Upgrading water, sewer, and power infrastructure directly to commercial property lines so private enterprise owners can complete internal build-outs.
The business-focused allocation works in tandem with foundational state utility investments, including nearly $13 million dedicated to municipal water and sewer system resilience and approximately $1.7 million in primary road rebuilding.
Long-Term Regional Economic Blueprint
The Chimney Rock site visit highlights the state’s broader economic framework for mountain business districts recovering from storm losses. While emergency stabilization is complete—with more than 99% of storm-impacted roads and public water systems restored across the region—the new economic plan establishes 5- and 10-year growth metrics designed to safeguard regional enterprise.
Core pillars of the economic plan include:
Small Business & Workforce Resiliency: Capital grants, technical assistance, and retention programs tailored to mountain enterprises.
Tourism & Destination Commerce: Restoring outdoor recreation infrastructure and rebuilding destination marketing to drive visitor spending back into mountain hubs.
Logistics & Regional Connectivity: Long-term capital improvements to commercial highway corridors, freight rail, and regional transit lines.
Image: NC Governor Stein's Office
