UNC Asheville to host the Governor’s Advisory Committee on WNC Recovery

On July 14, the University of North Carolina Asheville will host North Carolina Governor Josh Stein and members of the Governor’s Advisory Committee on Western North Carolina Recovery.

Composed of local leadership representing 15 North Carolina counties affected by Hurricane Helene, the committee will advise the Governor and the Governor’s Recovery Office for Western North Carolina (GROW NC) on recovery strategies that address the needs of the region.

GROW NC and Governor Stein aim to make the communities of WNC safer and stronger by addressing Helene-related issues in housing, infrastructure, revitalizing the local economy and providing near- and long-term relief funding.

“UNC Asheville is honored to host the Governor’s Advisory Committee on Western North Carolina Recovery. As a public university deeply rooted in this region, we are incredibly proud of our community-minded alumni, faculty, staff, and students who have been and continue to be leaders in the response to Helene,” Chancellor Kimberly van Noort said. “This is a moment for collaboration, and we are proud to serve as a convening place for bold ideas and meaningful action to help Western North Carolina rebuild stronger than ever.”

Asheville Mayor Esther Manheimer and North Carolina Senator Kevin Corbin co-chair the committee. Other notable members of the committee include UNC Asheville alumni Nathan Ramsey ’89 and Lindsey Prather ’10; Al Whitesides, for whom UNC Asheville’s Whitesides Hall is named; and former UNC Asheville Board of Trustees members Chuck McGrady and Jack Cecil.

The meeting will be held in the Blue Ridge Room starting at 10 a.m. The meeting is open to the public, with in-person and virtual viewing options, but is not open for public comment.

Those who would like to attend in-person will need to register for a Summer Daily Parking permit and may park in visitor, non-resident, and all permit lots. There is no fee associated with parking, but registration must be completed prior to arriving on campus.

To attend virtually, the public can register for the meeting at this link. There will not be an opportunity for public comment, but questions and feedback can be shared at wncrecovery@nc.gov.