Posted on by Bill Slagle

May 28, 2026 EDC Agenda and Meeting Minutes

May 28, 2026
12:00 PM-1:30 PM
Mitchell County Chamber/EDC Office
208 Oak Avenue
Spruce Pine, NC 28777

  1. CALL TO ORDER
  2. WELCOME
  3. INVOCATION
  4. ETHICS AWARENESS AND CONFLICT OF INTEREST REMINDER:
    In accordance with the State Government Ethics Act, it is the duty of every board member to avoid both conflicts of interest and appearance of conflict. Does any board member have any known conflicts of interest or appearances of conflict of interest with respect to any matters coming before the Board? If so, please identify the conflict or appearance of conflict and refrain from any undue participation in the particular matter involved.
  5. ADDITIONS OR CHANGES TO THE AGENDA
  6. ADOPTION OF AGENDA
  7. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
  8. PUBLIC COMMENTS
  9. REPORTS/PRESENTATIONS
    1. Financials – Amanda Hollifield
    2. Chamber of Commerce – Patti Jensen
  10. DIRECTORS REPORT – BILL SLAGLE
    1. Opportunity Zone Review
    2. Business Park Update
    3. Labor Economic Analysis
    4. Marley’s Training Update & SelectUSA
    5. Recommendations for Advisory Committee
  11. BOARD COMMENTS/UPDATES
  12. ADJOURNMENT

MINUTES

May 28, 2026

The EDC board met on May 28th at 12pm. Present were: Bill Slagle, Amanda Hollifield, Cris Gardner, Lee Ellis, Chuck Vines, Allen Cook, Daniel Stines, Tonia Hale, Jon Duncan, and Marley Cloer.

  1. CALL TO ORDER: Jon Duncan welcomed everyone and called the meeting to order at 12:01pm.
  2. WELCOME
  3. INVOCATION: Lee Ellis
  4. ETHICS AWARENESS AND CONFLICT OF INTEREST REMINDER:
    In accordance with the State Government Ethics Act, it is the duty of every board member to avoid both conflicts of interest and appearance of conflict. Does any board member have any known conflicts of interest or appearances of conflict of interest with respect to any matters coming before the Board? If so, please identify the conflict or appearance of conflict and refrain from any undue participation in the particular matter involved.
  5. ADDITIONS OR CHANGES TO THE AGENDA:
  6. Change item 11C to Labor Economic Analysis
  7. Add item 11D, Marley’s Training Update & Select USA
  8. Add item 11E, Recommendations for Advisory Committee
  9. ADOPTION OF AGENDA: Tonia Hale made the motion to approve the changes and adopt the agenda, Amanda Hollifield seconded. All in favor 100%, All opposed 0%
  10. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Chuck Vines made the motion to approve the minutes from April, Lee Ellis seconded. All in favor 100%, All opposed 0%
  11. PUBLIC COMMENTS: None
  12. REPORTS/PRESENTATIONS
  1. Financials – Amanda Hollifield
  1. For the month of April, total checking/savings is $581267.80, total assets, liability, and equity is $582,608.58. Total income is $1,142.53 and expenses are $11,121.28, so then our loss net income would be $9,978.75 for the month of April. Lee Ellis made the motion to approve the April financials, Tonia Hale seconded. All in favor 100%, All opposed 0%
  2. Bill mentioned that another $45,000 will be coming out of the account in either June or July for the due diligence report to Sanford Holshouser. He also shared what money will be coming in to the account from the County come July 1.
  1. Chamber of Commerce – Bill Slagle
    1. Patti Jensen has officially resigned from the Mitchell County Chamber. The golf tournament was a great success and made a good profit for the Chamber and preparation has begun for the 2026 NC Mineral & Gem Festival. He talked about the Prayer Breakfast this year in October. Bill brought to everyone’s attention the need for discussion on the EDC and Chamber’s relationship, and whether or not to continue the Memorandum of Understanding between the two organizations.
  1. DIRECTORS REPORT – BILL SLAGLE
  1. Opportunity Zone Review
    1. Received a notice that Secretary of Commerce, Lee Lilley, was redoing the opportunity tracks in each county and wants Bill to submit an application. Bill met with Keegan Silvers, Property Manager for the Penland-Bailey Corporation, to go over the application and submit. If approved, this will provide great investment opportunity in the County.
  2. Business Park Update
    1. The final drone video was shown with the exceptions of a few changes.
  1. There has been a delay in the timeline for due diligence throughout the Archaeological review. Due to the site’s topography, hydrology, and history of Native Americans, they are wanting to do an additional step which would require someone to come and physically evaluate the property in a more in-depth way.
  1. Labor Economic Analysis
    1. Bill has recommended to go with Sanford Holshouser for the completion of the Labor Economic Analysis. They came in with the lowest bid of $18,500, plus traveling expenses. The grant from EDPNC would be for a total request of $20,000 to cover the costs.
    2. Chuck Vines made the motion to formally select Sanford Holshouser for the Labor Economic Analysis, Lee Ellis seconded. All in favor 100%, All opposed 0%
  2. Marley’s Training Update & SelectUSA
    1. Bill talks about his and Marley’s trip to the SelectUSA conference and that they came back with 11 leads of interest in foreign direct investment in Mitchell County. The Mitchell Business Park was advertised as becoming a fully-certified site this year and ready for businesses.
    2. Marley has completed two of her NCCED Courses through ECU and will register for the basic course in July.
  3. Recommendations for Advisory Committee
    1. Bill recommended to the board that Mac Robinson fills the open spot on the Advisory Committee. Daniel Stines made the motion to issue an invitation to Mac Robinson to serve on the Advisory Committee, Amanda Hollifield seconded. All in favor 100%, All opposed 0%
  1. BOARD COMMENTS/UPDATES
  1. Daniel Stines – Provided an update on rezoning and annexation efforts in the Town of Spruce Pine, including projects involving Ingles, the urgent care facility near Walmart, and the GEM Construction site.
  2. Allen Cook – Private property debris removal is beginning. The resiliency center at Bowman is progressing, FEMA-related work continues, and the estimated fund balance is approximately $10 million.
  3. Chuck Vines – BRCD is working to stabilize creek banks. Efforts are also underway to restore the park, with a layout plan in place. The town has received $2 million in grants for water and wastewater projects, and there have been two to three business buyouts in the Town of Bakersville.
  4. Tonia Hale – Blue Ridge Regional Hospital now has three primary care providers. Recruitment efforts are underway for a former nurse practitioner, a new pediatrician joined at the end of March, and a new general surgeon is being hired. The Emergency Department received a Unit of Distinction award, reflecting outstanding employee engagement and placing it among the top facilities in the division.
    1. Tonia requested a letter of support from the EDC to support the Certificate of Need for 92 beds for Blue Ridge Regional Hospital.
    2. Lee Ellis made the motion to support the Certificate of Need for 92 beds for BRRH, Daniel Stines seconds. All in favor 100%, All opposed 0%
  5. Amanda Hollifield – Provided updates on the TRAC Studio Tour, Penland’s summer programs, and a recently received $13 million endowment gift
  6. ADJOURNMENT: Chuck Vines made a motion to adjourn the meeting, Amanda Hollifield seconds. All in favor 100%, All opposed 0%