A unique collaboration involving around 20 western North Carolina small businesses is underway in Mill Spring, just 45 miles outside of Asheville. Leaders at Tryon International call the effort, “WNC Main Street.” They’re offering the International Pavillion’s 25,000 square-foot second floor as no-cost retail space to businesses whose brick-and-mortar locations were impacted or destroyed by flooding from Hurricane Helene. Small businesses from Chimney Rock, Lake Lure, Hendersonville, and Asheville have relocated to the space while recovery and rebuilding efforts continue.
Tryon International Equestrian Center’s campus attracts an estimated 200,000 visitors each year, creating a strong customer base for the restaurants, retail and lodging on site. Major attractions include PBR Rodeo Carolina competitions, equestrian competitions, Saturday Night Lights events, and the Earl Scruggs Music Festival.
“It is our joy to be able to host small businesses from throughout western North Carolina who were impacted by Hurricane Helene,” said Sharon Decker, Tryon Equestrian Partners Carolina Operations President. “We knew immediately that recovery would be a long-term process and that we were committed to being a resource to our neighbors in any way we could, for as long as it takes.” Decker is one of 29 members of the Governor’s Advisory Committee for Western North Carolina, established on January 2, 2025 to advise Governor Josh Stein on strategies to address the needs of communities affected by Hurricane Helene.
Leaders from the Governor’s Recovery Office for Western North Carolina (GROW NC) visited WNC Main Street on May 2 for a tour of the facility and to check in with small business owners about their recovery progress. “Being in communities to talk with business owners directly has been a meaningful way to connect with the challenges they are facing and the progress they are making,” said Matt Calabria, GROW NC Director. “Their feedback helps us develop responsive policies to address ongoing needs.”
Chimney Rock’s River Watch Bar & Grill is one of the businesses we visited at WNC Main Street. The restaurant, located along the Rocky Broad River, required extensive cleanup. Now, it has entered its reconstruction phase, with new walls and flooring recently installed. Chimney Rock Village, which River Watch called home, has been closed to the public due to extensive damage from Helene, but leaders hope to reopen both the village and Chimney Rock State Park sometime this summer. The town continues to share recovery updates on social media.
Kathryn Hatch, owner of Lake Lure's Rockreation Gems and Minerals says that, in addition to the business opportunity, the interaction with other small business owners has been a tremendous support.
“When the disaster happened, we were all hurting,” said Hatch. “Operating within WNC Main Street has really helped us create a community to help vendors support each other, and the Tryon staff have really been there for us, too.”
Other western North Carolina businesses housed on WNC Main Street include clothing boutiques, art galleries, and a bee farm operating 11 apiaries (bee yards) which produce honey, lip balms, soaps, and candles.
According to Decker, many businesses have chosen to stay at WNC Main Street beyond the initial commitment, and Tryon International has renewed its intention to support and drive traffic to these businesses year-round. “It has been so wonderful to hear stories of how helpful this space has been, allowing businesses to continue to function while the rebuilding process is underway,” said Decker.
State funding aimed at helping western North Carolina small businesses recover includes the Western North Carolina Small Business Initiative announced by Governor Josh Stein in January in partnership with Dogwood Health Trust. As of April 29, all of the $55 million available through WNCSBI has been dispersed through 2,182 grants to small business owners.
A new Small Business Infrastructure Grant Program (SmBIZ) became available on April 29, offering a $55 million fund through the Recovery Act of 2025 - Part 1 to help communities rebuild the damaged infrastructure that small businesses rely on. Local governments in North Carolina located in areas impacted by Hurricane Helene can now apply for these grants through the North Carolina Department of Commerce’s Rural Economic Development Division.
Track recovery progress by visiting the WNC Recovery data dashboard, updated weekly by the Governor’s Recovery Office for Western North Carolina (GROW NC).