Rutherford County’s tourism leaders updated commissioners on post‑storm recovery projects and a multi‑year tourism strategy they say already has produced millions in public and grant investment.
Don Case, director of the county’s Tourism Development Authority (TDA), told the Board that Rutherford Bound — a multi‑project program — currently has 14 projects in process and 12 completed, with roughly $24.5 million spent directly through Rutherford Bound and nearly $42 million invested countywide when partner projects such as the RHI Legacy soccer complex are included. Case said the TDA has secured about $11 million in external grants, roughly $5.6 million in local government matches, almost $7 million from the TDA itself over six years, and more than $1 million in donations.
Case described a new fundraising and implementation effort, “Raise the Rock,” focused on Chimney Rock and Lake Lure. The plan, which the village adopted August 19, maps three study areas — upstream, the downtown core and the corridor down to Lake Lure — and includes streetscape work, a DOT‑proposed traffic circle in the downtown hub and a proposed river restoration. Case said the state Commerce allocation provided $5.5 million for Chimney Rock streetscape work, and the TDA raised roughly $300,000 through a “Back to Beautiful” fundraising campaign dedicated to Chimney Rock and Lake Lure recovery.
TDA staff said they have engaged river restoration engineers from Boulder, Colorado, and that those consultants are working with N.C. Department of Transportation engineers to evaluate a new bridge, river channel work and public access improvements. Case emphasized the plan is a vision and implementation depends on additional federal and state funding, DOT cooperation and FEMA and EDA input.
Commissioners and community members discussed tourism funding rules. Commissioner comments referenced the state occupancy (lodging) tax formula, which currently requires a larger share be used for marketing (two‑thirds) than for local project reinvestment (one‑third). Multiple commissioners urged legislators to consider a 50–50 split to allow more local reconstruction and capital projects, particularly after the storm reduced occupancy tax receipts by about 30–50 percent in recent months.
Case told commissioners the TDA will maintain core marketing spending but expects to scale back some program funding, including Rutherford Bound project promotion, if occupancy tax revenues remain lower than pre‑storm levels. He also said the TDA will continue agritourism support, trail partnerships, community event grants and projects such as North Slope Skatepark and paddle trails already completed.