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Business

Boone Area Chamber of Commerce Announces 2025 Watauga County Businesses of the Year

January 8, 2026 Boone, NC – January 8, 2026 -“Each of these businesses hold high the value of community partnerships,” said David Jackson, President/CEO of the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce. “While their individual missions and reach are diverse, their commitment to community is their unifying trait, and nothing short of inspiring. All three have relied on the local market to build their workforce, they’ve sought unique ways to partner with local individuals and businesses to support and advance projects, and they each excel in providing a touch of High Country hospitality in how they operate. We are excited to celebrate with these businesses and showcase their successes and positive impacts on our community.”

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Avery County Chamber of Commerce Uplifts a Rebrand: To Connect, Support and Inspire

January 4, 2025 Boone, NC – January 4, 2025 -As part of this innovation engagement the chamber has partnered with Jeanine Hasty of Bramble Media & Marketing, to pursue a refreshed visual identity aligned with this evolving vision—one that reflects the momentum, growth, and commitment to better serving its members, partners, and the Avery County community as a whole.

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WinterFest Schedule Announced 

December 19, 2025 Boone, NC – December 19, 2025 -The Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce is excited to announce that tickets are now on sale for the 28th Annual WinterFest, presented by Hendrick Automotive, taking place January 22–25, 2026. 

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Sugar Mountain Ski Resort Opened on Tuesday for the Winter Season with a Bang

November 13, 2025 Sugar Mountain Ski Resort opened on Tuesday, November 11 for the 2025-26 winter season after the winter blast that blew into the High Country beginning on Sunday evening. The weather certainly was a shock for most as the quick change from the pleasant fall temperatures to a snowmaking opportunity was the signal for the Sugar Mountain Snowmaking crew to get to work. But this is not an unusual early opening for the ambitious Southern ski area. Other early openings occurred November 11, 2018, and November 9, 2019. And as recently as 2012, Sugar Mountain Resort dropped the ropes on Halloween

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BOONE AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FOUNDATION RECEIVES

September 26, 2025 BOONE, NC – The Boone Area Chamber of Commerce Foundation (BACCF) is excited to announce it has received a $250,000 grant from the Center for Disaster Philanthropy’s (CDP) Truist Foundation Western North Carolina Recovery and Resiliency Fund (the Fund).

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Graystone Eye’s Commitment to Care Reaches Bolivia

August 27, 2025 Hickory, NC — At Graystone Eye, our mission to preserve the gift of sight extends far beyond the walls of our clinics and surgery center. Through our nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, Graystone Eye Missions, and with the support of our physicians, we are able to carry that mission into communities where access to vision care is scarce—both locally and across the globe. Outreach and service are woven into the very fabric of who we are.

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Registration Open for 2025 Watauga Leadership Institute Encore Program

August 18, 2025 The Watauga Leadership Institute (WLI) has opened registration for the 2025 Encore series, a four-course program for those who seek advanced leadership development. This cohort-style course offers attendees the opportunity to expand their leadership knowledge, mindset, and skills in trending topic areas. Each two-hour session will focus on a WLI curriculum topic, fostering discussion and supporting participants’ self-renewal of their leadership principles.

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BOONE AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ANNOUNCES BOARD LEADERSHIP TRANSITIONS AND STAFF PROMOTIONS

July 15, 2025 BOONE, NC – The Boone Area Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce several leadership transitions to its Board of Directors and staff as it begins its 2025-26 fiscal year.
Tara Brossa, General Manager of the Hampton Inn & Suites of Boone and the Courtyard by Marriott of Boone, begins her appointment as Chair of the Board of Directors. Originally joining the Chamber board in 2022, Brossa currently serves as Chair of the organization’s Workforce Development Committee and has been a key link between the Chamber and the hospitality industry during her tenure. She is Vice Chair of the High-Country Workforce Development Board and serves as an adjunct professor for Caldwell Community College & Technical Institute. Brossa was named as an NC Trailblazer in 2024 by Business NC Magizine, recognizing emerging leaders in the State’s rural communities.

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Watauga Economic Development Commission Opens May & June Business Snapshot Surveys

July 8, 2025 In a continued effort to track real-time conditions for local businesses as recovery from the impacts of Hurricane Helene continue, the Watauga County Economic Development Commission has opened its reporting window for its May and June 2025 Business Snapshot Reports. Businesses are encouraged to fill out survey data by using the link below. The survey is open from Monday, July 7th at Noon – Tuesday, July 22nd at Noon. Due to the ramp up for summer tourism and holiday schedules, these two reports were combined to allow businesses more time to gather data and submit their data. We will resume a monthly reporting schedule through October 2025.

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Catgut ‘n’ Jugs Bluegrass Show is Now on Live365.com

June 27 2025 Host Ronnie Moretz and the Catgut ‘n’ Jugs Bluegrass Show are moving from terrestrial radio to a streaming platform with a reach to over 80 million listeners. Live365.com will stream the Catgut ‘n’ Jugs Bluegrass Show each Sunday from 8–10 p.m. beginning July 6, 2025. “I have been on radio for over 17 years,” said Moretz. “This will give me the opportunity to continue to share my love for bluegrass with people in the High Country and will have the added benefit of sharing bluegrass with people from around the world.” By Sam Garrett

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BREMCO Annual Meeting: Reports Presented, Director Election Results Announced

June 27 2025 Business reports and director election results were announced at the Annual Meeting of Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation held at the cooperative’s corporate office in Lenoir on Thursday, June 26. The meeting was available for members to participate by attending in person at the corporate office or members could view the live meeting online at Blue Ridge Energy’s YouTube channel. A recording of the meeting will be available soon at www.BlueRidgeEnergy.com.

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Wilkes Community College Small Business Center Now Accepting Applications for The Retail Academy for September 9 through October 27

June 26 2025 Wilkesboro, NC – The Wilkes Community College Small Business Center is now accepting applications for The Retail Academy—a brand new program created to address the complexities and sometimes daunting nature of starting and operating a retail establishment. The Retail Academy will serve existing or prospective retail business owners in Wilkes, Ashe, and Alleghany counties. It is an application-based, six-week immersive boot camp and will run from September 9 through October 27 on Tuesdays from 6pm-8pm at the Wilkes Community College – Kendrick/Church Hall. Applications are open now and will be accepted through August 15

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Watauga County Signs Contract to Purchase Watauga Medics, INC for $1.7 Million

June 21, 2025 Watauga County has reached an agreement with Watauga Medics, Inc. for Ambulance
Services in Watauga County to become a County-Operated Service. At the June 17, 2025 regularly scheduled meeting, the Watauga County Board of Commissioners approved the purchase of the assets of Watauga Medics, Inc. for $1.7 million. $1 million was for the purchase of all ambulances and equipment of Watauga Medics, and $700,000 for the purchase of Medic Base 2 located at 133 Boone NC 28607

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High-Country Real Estate Market Report for May Shows Sales up 34% Over April Sales

June 20, 2025 The High-Country Real Estate Market, consisting of Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, and Watauga counties, saw 138 closed sales on single-family and condo/townhouse properties in May 2025, up 34.0% compared to April 2025.   Inventory was up 26.6% compared to April 2025. The combined closing total of sales for May 2025 was over 87.9 million compared to a closing total for May 2024 of $ 86.5 million. However, the combined median sales price for all four counties was $504,998 for May 2025, up 17.9% compared to May 2024. Hopefully, this is the beginning of an upturn for the High Country Real Estate market.

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Local Edward Jones Financial Advisor, Jason Sirmon, Receives Spirit of Caring Award

June 17, 2025 Jason Sirmon, longtime Edward Jones financial advisor whose office is located in Boone, recently received his firm’s exclusive Ted Jones Spirit of Caring Award for his community response to the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene. The award, designed to recognize those financial advisors who exemplify the values, culture, and spirit of giving back, was presented to Sirmon during the firm’s annual regional dinner in Hickory on May 3.

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Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation Announces Annual Membership Meeting June 26

June 16, 2025 The Annual Membership Meeting of Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation will be held at the cooperative’s corporate headquarters at 1216 Blowing Rock Blvd. in Lenoir, on Thursday, June 26th, at 4 pm. During the annual meeting, business reports will be delivered from key Board officers and cooperative staff. These reports, including director election results, will also be shared on the cooperative’s website and social media after the annual meeting. Members wanting to simply watch the meeting can do so by livestream on the Blue Ridge Energy YouTube channel. A video of the meeting will also be posted on the cooperative’s website.

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Mortimer’s Craft Butchery Set to Open in Blowing Rock Early July Amid Community Excitement

June 13, 2025 AJ Nowell has worked “in meat” for 20 years. And for nearly 15 of those 20 years he has dreamed of owning his own butcher shop. And in early July, AJ, and his wife and business partner, Ashley, will realize their dream, when Mortimer’s Craft Butchery opens in the former Papa Joe’s pizza restaurant on Valley Blvd, in Blowing Rock. AJ began his journey in the field working as what is known in the industry as a “meat cutter”, which most consumers might recognize as those folks one sometimes gets a peak of through the glass windows of many grocery store meat departments. These meat cutters typically work with what are already somewhat processed cuts of meat. By Lorry Mulhern

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Town of Boone Proposed Budget FY25/26

May 30, 2025 The proposed budget for the Town of Boone has been presented to the Boone Town Council and is available for public inspection by appointment at Town Hall from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and on the Town’s website: www.townofboone.net. The proposed budget will be discussed at a public hearing on Wednesday, June 11, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. in Council Chambers located at 1500 Blowing Rock Road. Following the public hearing, the proposed budget will be adopted at the June 25, 2025, regular Town Council meeting at 6:00 p.m. in Town Council Chambers located at 1500 Blowing Rock Road.

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Four Watauga Students Awarded Scholarships from Blue Ridge Energy

May 30, 2025 Blue Ridge Energy recently awarded $32,000 in college scholarships to 14 students across its service area seeking to further their academic goals. The scholarships are part of the Blue Ridge Energy Leadership Track program, designed to help high school students better prepare for acceptance into the college of their dreams. In Watauga County, four students received a total of $10,000.

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W.A.M.Y. Community Action’s Denim & Diamonds 2025 Event Shines Bright, Raising $119,000 to Support High Country Families

May 29, 2025 On May 22, the High Country community gathered at The White Crow Farm in Banner Elk for WAMY Community Action’s annual Denim & Diamonds gala. The enchanting evening welcomed over 250 guests and raised an incredible $119,000 to aid families in Watauga, Avery, Mitchell, and Yancey Counties. Proceeds will focus on supporting low-income families, particularly those still recovering from the damage caused by Hurricane Helene.

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Watauga Economic Development Commission Releases April 2025 Business Snapshot Report

May 28, 2025 In an ongoing effort to track real-time conditions for local businesses as recovery from the impacts of Hurricane Helene continue, the Watauga County Economic Development Commission released its seventh monthly Business Snapshot Report, which highlights activity for the month of April 2025. These monthly reports provide data on the state of business in Watauga County, with a focus on current concerns, performance toward revenue expectations, and ability to meet staffing needs among its core analysis.

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Blue Ridge Parkway Will Remain Open in the High Country for the Summer and Fall of 2025

May 22, 2025. We’re pleased to share positive news for residents and visitors alike: the Blue Ridge Parkway will remain open to traffic in the High Country throughout the summer and fall seasons. This update follows a productive and informative meeting held today with leadership from the Blue Ridge Parkway and the National Park Service, along with staff from our congressional delegation, local elected officials, local business leaders and partnering agencies. Ongoing infrastructure improvements funded by the Great American Outdoors Act (2020) continue and some sections of the Parkway previously impacted by Hurricane Helene will also be opening further throughout the year in Watauga and Avery Counties.

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