Mapping Mitchell County’s Outdoor Assets: Report and Recommendations Rachel Taylor Analyst, NCGrowth 5/11/20 www.NCGrowth.unc.edu NCGROWTH was founded in 2012 to help businesses create good jobs and to help communities create sustainable and equitable opportunities for their people. With a passionate staff and a dynamic pool of graduate student analysts, we partner with businesses, communities, governments, and other organizations to tackle outcome- based economic development and entrepreneurship projects. Since 2012, NCGrowth has helped to create hundreds of jobs and worked with over 150 business and community clients. NCGrowth is funded by the Frank Hawkins Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise, US Economic Development Administration, Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation, and the SunTrust Foundation. Learn more at www.NCGrowth.unc.edu. 1 Authors Rachel Taylor, MPA Analyst, NCGrowth Rachel Taylor graduated from the University of North Carolina at Asheville in 2013 with a joint bachelor’s degree in Spanish and Interdisciplinary Studies along with a minor in Cultural Anthropology. Rachel earned her Masters of Public Affairs from Western Carolina University. Jess Wilkinson, MPP Economic Development Manager, NCGrowth As NCGrowth’s Economic Development Manager, Jess Wilkinson works with local government entities across North Carolina to research and apply economic development strategies to create good jobs and equitable opportunities. Jess earned her Masters of Public Policy from Duke’s Sanford School. Prior to graduate school, Jess worked as an analyst at the U.S. Agency for International Development on global HIV prevention programs. 2 Table of Contents Executive Summary .................................................................................... 5 Methodology.............................................................................................. 7 Literature Review ................................................................................................. 7 Asset Mapping ..................................................................................................... 7 Outdoor Recreation Economy .............................................................................. 8 Recreation in Rural Counties................................................................................. 9 Background Context ................................................................................ 11 Regional Context ................................................................................................ 11 Existing Plans ...................................................................................................... 11 Mitchell County Overview: Assets, Opportunities, Challenges ............... 12 Assets ................................................................................................................. 12 Opportunities ..................................................................................................... 13 Challenges .......................................................................................................... 14 Outdoor Recreation Asset Map ............................................................... 14 Map Analysis and Findings ....................................................................... 17 Roan Mountain .................................................................................................. 17 North Toe River .................................................................................................. 17 The Blue Ridge Parkway ..................................................................................... 18 Restaurants, Shopping, and Rentals................................................................... 18 Hub Towns ......................................................................................................... 18 Asset Map: Possible Uses ................................................................................... 19 Lessons from Case Studies ....................................................................... 20 Kitsbow: Prioritizing Livability and Workforce ................................................... 20 Columbia, NC: Innovative Governance and Collaboration ................................. 21 Chimney Rock: Apply a Broad Definition of Economic Development Assets ..... 22 Black Mountain: Public-Private Partnerships Support Community Development Interests ........................................................................................................................ 23 Community Development is Economic Development for Small Towns ............. 23 Recommendations ................................................................................... 25 Create an Outdoor Industry Taskforce to Lead Efforts ...................................... 25 Involve Key Stakeholders in the Outdoor Industry Taskforce ............................... 25 Create a Strategic Plan ....................................................................................... 25 Provide Leadership and Collaborate with Other Organizations ............................ 26 Host Events ........................................................................................................ 26 Support Outdoor Industry Development ........................................................... 26 3 Create a Business Dashboard Webpage .............................................................. 26 Support Start-Ups ............................................................................................... 27 Build on Community Capital ............................................................................... 27 Connect Recreation to Business .......................................................................... 27 Create an Outdoor Recreation Marketing Strategy ........................................... 28 Build Momentum by Focusing on Short-Term Outdoor Asset Projects ............. 29 Access Points ...................................................................................................... 29 Site Identifiers .................................................................................................... 29 Covered Kiosks ................................................................................................... 29 Parking Quality and Availability ........................................................................... 29 Restrooms .......................................................................................................... 30 Bike Routes ........................................................................................................ 30 Enhance the Toe River Paddle Trail ................................................................... 30 Enhance Access Points ....................................................................................... 31 Conclusion ................................................................................................ 33 References ............................................................................................... 35 Appendices .............................................................................................. 37 Appendix A: Outdoor Asset Maps ...................................................................... 38 Appendix B: Asset Analysis ................................................................................. 41 Appendix C: Table of Assets ............................................................................... 43 Appendix D: Table of Potential Recreational Asset Sites and Uses .................... 51 Appendix E: Complementary Materials and Resources ..................................... 53 Appendix F: Fishing Maps and Paddle Trail Map ............................................... 55 Appendix G: Biking Maps ................................................................................... 61 Appendix H: Other Activities Maps .................................................................... 67 Appendix I: Properties in the Roan Highlands Area ........................................... 69 Resources for projects ....................................................................................... 74 COVID-19 Resources .......................................................................................... 76 4 Executive Summary NCGrowth conducted this report for Mitchell County to map the county’s outdoor recreation assets along with relevant businesses in order to identify gaps in assets and resources. NCGrowth also identified strategies and best practices for leveraging the county’s outdoor recreational assets. By identifying assets and opportunities the county will be able to create a strategic plan to leverage outdoor recreation as an economic development tool. By following these recommendations, Mitchell County will be able to increase and improve outdoor assets that attract visitors, new residents, and keep current residents. The county will also be able to increase the economic impact from recreation in the county. Much of the research that informed this report and the subsequent recommendations was conducted before the impacts of COVID-19 were felt. Due to these changes, some aspects of this report may have changed. Purpose The purpose of this report is to help Mitchell County, other local government agencies, funders, businesses, and community stakeholders to: 1. Gain a better understanding of Mitchell County’s existing outdoor recreation assets, identify future opportunities