Montgomery County adopts five‑year outdoor recreation economic plan

The Montgomery County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a resolution Oct. 21 adopting a five‑year Creating Outdoor Recreation Economies strategic plan developed with the North Carolina Main Street & Rural Planning Program and the Department of Commerce.

The plan, funded in part by the U.S. Economic Development Administration, aims to help the county grow outdoor‑recreation businesses, expand lodging options and tie events and downtown commercial districts to outdoor assets to capture visitor spending.

Grace Lawrence, Sandhills community economic development planner for the North Carolina Main Street & Rural Planning Program, told commissioners the program works with rural communities to “tap in to those natural assets” and focus on incremental projects that can show early success. Lawrence said the program classifies outdoor recreation as activities that take place in a natural environment and require some exertion, and that the plan concentrates on activities such as hunting, fishing, biking and hiking rather than ball fields or playgrounds.

Lawrence cited statewide data collected by the Bureau of Economic Analysis showing an outdoor‑recreation value‑added impact of about $16.1 billion in North Carolina in 2023, and described local research showing a substantial visitor market within a 90‑minute drive. The work group that drafted the Montgomery County plan identified two core strategies: creating economic opportunities for outdoor‑recreation businesses and strengthening physical and social connections that sustain quality of life for residents and visitors.

The strategic plan includes a SWOT analysis that the work group used to prioritize actions. Strengths listed include a central location, lakes, trails and cultural attractions such as the Peach Festival; weaknesses include limited lodging and infrastructure; opportunities include trail expansion, events and partnerships with outdoor‑equipment businesses; threats include population decline, development pressure and funding limits.

Specific recommended actions in the plan of work include forming a standing local committee to champion outdoor recreation and coordinate implementation; maintaining ties with the North Carolina Outdoor Economy Office and other state resources; researching and promoting lodging and campground opportunities (including agritourism and “glamping”); producing recruitment guidance for new businesses; and coordinating event calendars and marketing assets to keep visitors in the county longer.

Commissioners debated details and next steps after the presentation. A motion to adopt a resolution moving the plan forward passed without recorded roll‑call vote. Afterward, commissioners thanked Lawrence and county staff for the work on the plan.

What’s next: the plan lays out responsible parties, timelines and cost notes for each action item; commissioners directed staff to proceed with the implementation steps listed in the plan and to report back with a proposed organizational structure and implementation schedule.