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Western North Carolina’s economic recovery after Hurricane Helene depends directly on the restoration of our rivers. Using state funding from last year, MountainTrue hired 100 storm-displaced residents who have already pulled over 6 million pounds of debris from our waterways—critical infrastructure that drives our $5 billion outdoor economy. However, that funding is running out. Without renewed investment from the General Assembly, MountainTrue will soon have to lay off these crews, leaving hundreds of miles of rivers clogged and closed for business.
We need a united voice from local businesses, Chambers of Commerce, Rotary Clubs, and community organizations to show lawmakers that river cleanup is an urgent economic necessity.
Sign on now to support continued state funding for MountainTrue’s debris removal efforts. Add your name by filling out the form at the bottom of the letter below.
Dear [Legislator Name],
We, the undersigned representatives of local Tourism Development Authorities, Chambers of Commerce, and the outdoor recreation industry, are writing to respectfully urge your continued support and funding for river clean-up and debris removal efforts in Western North Carolina.
According to the 2024 Made X Mtns WNC Outdoor Recreation Survey, the outdoor recreation industry historically drives a staggering $5 billion impact on our local economy.
However, that baseline was measured before the Helene devastated our region.
Right now, our communities and local businesses are still struggling to recover. To bring that $5 billion economy back, we must repair our infrastructure—and in Western North Carolina, our waterways are our primary economic infrastructure. They are the factories and highways that support our outfitters, guides, hospitality businesses, restaurants, and retail shops. When our rivers remain clogged with storm debris, sediment, and hazards, they are closed for business. Consequently, tourism halts, small business revenues plummet, and local tax bases shrink.
With your help, last year the legislature appropriated funds to support allow MountainTrue to hire 100 local residents – many of them displaced by the storm – to clear our waterways so commerce can safely resume.
To date this effort has removed more than 6 MILLION pounds of debris.
But this job is far from completed. Without additional investment, MountainTrue will soon shut down its clean up work and lay-off its debris teams – while hundreds of miles of river and stream beds still need clean up.
That’s why we hope you will support continued investment in MountainTrue’s debris removal work. Cleaning up our rivers means rebuilding jobs, saving local businesses, and restoring an outdoor recreation economy that working families in our districts desperately depend on.
Please support local businesses, chambers, and tourism authorities by ensuring MountainTrue’s river clean-up efforts are fully funded to meet the scale of this recovery. Thank you for your time, your service to our state, and your dedication to the economic revitalization of our region.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
