10th Annual Get In Gear Fest Presented by Fred Anderson Subaru – Vendor Registration Is Open!
The Outdoor Business Alliance of WNC is excited to announce that its 10th Anniversary Get In Gear Fest is slated for April 26th, 2025 at The Adventure Center of Asheville from 12 pm to 5 pm. Vendor registration is live!
Asheville Wellness Tours – Blue Ghost Firefly Tours – NEW Private Location
We’re so excited to launch our 2025 Blue Ghost Firefly night hikes and overnight retreats. For two weeks only, mid-May, our guests will enjoy exclusive access to 900+ acres of private conservation land – an incredible opportunity to escape the crowds and enjoy the magic in peace. Guests can choose a 3 hour night hike or overnight retreat that includes dinner, breakfast, accommodations, and a guided forest bathing night walk. Whether joining for a few hours or the full night, we’ll immerse in the magic of the forest at night. From sunset and starry skies to fireflies, we’ll marvel at Mother Nature’s light show as we explore the forest hoping to encounter the elusive Blue Ghost firefly species!
McHone Performance Training to Celebrate Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting Following Extensive Hurricane Recovery
McHone Performance Training (MPT) is pleased to announce its official Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony, hosted in partnership with the Asheville Chamber of Commerce on March 11, 2025, at 4:00 p.m. This event marks both the long-awaited opening of MPT’s premier training facility and a celebration of resilience following the devastating impact of Hurricane Helene.
Members of the Asheville community, local athletes, and supporters are invited to attend. RSVPs via Facebook are encouraged to assist with event planning.
Update from the North Carolina Outdoor Recreation Coalition (NCOREC)
This month, NCOREC board members traveled to Raleigh to meet with legislators about the organization’s 2025 legislative agenda. While the industry’s needs for hurricane recovery are extensive, NCOREC’s primary focus during these meetings included advocating for business grants and forgivable loans for small businesses, securing funding for trails, greenways, and blueways as part of infrastructure initiatives, and promoting an outdoor recreation digital recovery campaign to boost visitation to Western North Carolina’s outdoor recreation assets and businesses. The full 2025 legislative agenda is available here.
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The NCOREC is closely monitoring House Bill 47, the latest package of Hurricane relief measures. This bill includes several funding provisions that are highly relevant to the outdoor recreation industry, such as $55 million for a new Small Business Infrastructure Fund at the Department of Commerce, aimed at helping small businesses by providing grants to local governments for expedited infrastructure repairs that affect business operations and customer traffic. Additionally, the bill allocates $20 million for stream debris removal and $3 million for EDPNC to launch a marketing campaign designed to attract visitors back to Western North Carolina. This is the latest Helene package, and legislative leaders have promised that there will be additional packages during this legislative session.
For the most up-to-date information, join the NCOREC’s monthly meeting, Friday, March 21st, 11:00am-11:30am.