Watauga Economic Development Commission Opens January 2025 Business Snapshot Survey
Watauga EDC also assists in launching Regional Business Impact Survey
BOONE, NC – In a continued effort to track real-time conditions for local businesses as recovery from the impacts of Hurricane Helene continue, the Watauga County Economic Development Commission has opened its reporting window for its January 2025 Business Snapshot Report.
Businesses are encouraged to fill out survey data by using the link below. The survey is open from Thursday, February 6 at 9:00AM – Tuesday, February 18th at Noon.
Watauga EDC January 2025 Business Snapshot Survey
This month’s survey also contains a short segment related to recent Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr holiday weekend sales and customer activity.
In addition to the monthly Business Snapshot survey, Riverbird Research, in partnership with local and state agencies, has launched the WNC Helene Impacts Business Response Survey to assess impacts and needs across our region. Businesses of all sizes and industries across WNC are encouraged to take the survey. Input will directly inform relief and recovery efforts at all levels of government. We thank our partners at the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce and EDPNC for coordinating this survey.
WNC Helene Impacts Business Response Survey
These monthly reports and surveys provide data on the state of business in Watauga County and Western North Carolina, with a focus on current concerns, performance toward revenue expectations, and ability to meet staffing needs among its core analysis.
“We are hearing more calls for data to back up the claims of loss suffered by businesses,” said Joe Furman, Director of Economic Development for the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce. We know that members of our local business community have suffered physical, fiscal, and workforce losses that have disrupted their ability to operate. That said, anecdotal information is not enough to inform policy, we have to supply hard data. These two surveys will keep us abreast of what is happening locally, while also getting a good look at region-wide performance.”
The Watauga EDC will conduct this study each month through October 2025. Businesses of all types inside the Watauga County limits are encouraged to participate and can have monthly survey links sent to them directly by sending a request to info@boonechamber.com.
Participants remain anonymous during the process and are only asked to identify their industry for data analysis purposes. Watauga EDC and the Boone Area and Blowing Rock Chambers of Commerce will use this data in their advocacy to policy makers and elected officials in seeking additional support for relief.
Watauga EDC will release its full report for January 2025 business performance on February 19th.
For more information on the Watauga Economic Development Commission, please contact Joe Furman at joe@boonechamber.com, or learn more on the webpage.