Wnc Communities

WNC Agricultural Options Program: Since 2012, WNC Communities has managed a cost-share grant program to support small family farms in WNC. Funded by the North Carolina General Assembly, through the NC Tobacco Trust Fund Commission, the mission of the WNC AgOptions program is to build sustainable farming communities in the mountain region by providing resources directly to farmers who are diversifying and expanding their operations. In 2023, WNC AgOptions awarded 32 farm businesses a total of $244,000 in $4,000 and $8,000 grants. Funded projects reflect the resiliency of WNC farmers as they adapt operations and respond to the dynamics of a world changed by COVID-19. Returns on initial farm investments are often immediate, as new farm income typically matches the size of the grants in the first year of the projects. Income continues to increase year after year, often doubling by the third year of the projects. Since the programs inception in 2004, 600+ farm businesses in WNC have received over $3 million in support.

Hemlock Restoration Initiative (HRI): The objective of HRI is to restore eastern and Carolina hemlocks to their native habitats throughout North Carolina and to mitigate damage to hemlocks caused by infestation of the hemlock woolly adelgid. More specifically, the goal is to work with a variety of partners and current restoration initiatives to ensure that eastern and Carolina hemlocks can resist the deadly hemlock woolly adelgid and survive to maturity on North Carolinas public and private lands. This involves Identifying and establishing hemlock conservation areas, educating landowners on how to economically treat and manage the hemlocks, increasing the number of trees being treated on public lands, implementing Integrated Pest Management and long-term biological controls and advancing the development of other control strategies and restoration techniques. In 2022, over 21,200 trees were treated in 16 counties in WNC, over 1450 predator beetles were released, 28 outreach events, educational hikes, and presentations were given, 5 management workshops/demonstrations were provided and 899 volunteer hours were utilized to support the HRI program.