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RALEIGH — At today’s meeting of the Governor’s Advisory Committee on Western North Carolina (GROWNC) Recovery from Hurricane Helene, state leaders laid out a sweeping and ambitious recovery plan — even as they revealed sharp setbacks in federal support.
GROWNC is a diverse, bipartisan coalition of local elected officials, business leaders, educators, healthcare professionals, and nonprofit advocates from across the mountain region. Co-chaired by Asheville Mayor Esther Manheimer and Senator Kevin Corbin, the committee is charged with advising Governor Josh Stein and the GROWNC initiative on recovery strategies following Hurricane Helene. It was created in January by executive order. Their mission includes identifying and addressing urgent needs in housing, infrastructure, small business recovery, education, and public health, while upholding the principles of transparency, cross-sector coordination, and community engagement.
Members represent counties from Ashe to Yancey, including figures such as Katie Button, chef and founder of Cúrate in Buncombe County; Jack Cecil, President of Biltmore Farms; Senator Tim Moffitt representing Henderson, Polk, and Rutherford; and Sharon Decker, President of Tryon Equestrian Partners. The group also includes Indigenous leadership, such as Casey Cooper, CEO of the Cherokee Indian Hospital Authority. The committee’s goal is to ensure that the long-term rebuilding of Western North Carolina reflects the real needs and voices of its people, according to their website and statements made by the governor and other staff members.
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