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McDowell Chamber highlights recovery work, $200,000 small‑business grants and downtown incubator plans
Summary
Kim Efler, president and CEO of the McDowell Chamber of Commerce, updated commissioners on chamber activity, a $200,000 mini‑grant program for Hurricane Helene recovery in partnership with the Duke Energy Foundation, membership and outreach metrics, and a planned downtown incubator in Old Fort to support entrepreneurs and small businesses.
Kim Efler, president and chief executive officer of the McDowell Chamber of Commerce, told the board on May 11 that the chamber’s 2025 and early‑2026 work has focused on recovery from Hurricane Helene, small‑business stabilization and workforce connections.
Efler reported that the chamber served 422 members in 2025, hosted events drawing nearly 1,000 attendees, delivered 31 ribbon‑cutting ceremonies, and recorded more than 750,000 digital impressions promoting local businesses. She said the chamber’s visitor center served over 6,000 visitors and described the organization’s structure — a chamber plus a foundation created in 2023 — that lets them both advocate and bring funding into McDowell County.
Efler announced a second phase of the chamber’s Hurricane Helene mini‑grant program, funded in partnership with the Duke Energy Foundation; at completion of the phase the chamber expects to have deployed nearly $200,000 in small grants to local businesses. She also outlined a downtown incubator project in Old Fort (a partnership with the Catawba Valley Innovation Market and other partners) that would provide coworking space, private offices and access to educational programming to help entrepreneurs launch and grow.
Efler emphasized practical programs such as Purposeful Pathways (a career fair for every fifth‑grader in the county), leadership development classes and advocacy priorities for 2026 (disaster recovery, workforce housing, tourism and economic development). Commissioners thanked her for the work and congratulated her on recent professional recognitions and leadership roles in regional chamber networks.
No formal board action was taken on the chamber’s projects during the meeting; Efler offered to coordinate with county staff on downtown and workforce initiatives as they move forward.
