BONUS CONTENT ALERT!! The North Carolina General Assembly is in recess and we have a few short updates about what has transpired in Raleigh over the past few weeks and months.

The main focus of this bonus installment of Mind Your Business centers around Early Childhood Education, and action taken by the NC House and Senate to extend compensation grants, or stabilization grants, to the end of the calendar year. This action saved a MAJOR disruption in early childhood services across the State, while also buying time for more conversation as the budget process continues.

Halee Hartley, Owner of Kid Cove here in Watauga County, is part of a team of early childhood advocates that has spent a good deal of time in Raleigh working on this important issue. She updates us on what happened, what it means, and how we can be involved in what comes next as early childhood education remains top of mind with NC legislators.

Mind Your Business is a weekly (and sometimes daily) production of the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce. Our show is made possible thanks to the sponsorship support of Appalachian Commercial Real Estate.

Bills discussed on the show:

NC Senate Joint Resolution 916(adjournment)
NC Senate Bill 912 (Watauga County Board of Education Districts)
NC Senate Bill 357 (adjustments to current appropriations -- compensation grants)

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The Round-Up for the Greenway is an annual community-wide fundraiser partnering with local Watauga County businesses to help fund the continued construction of the Middle Fork Greenway, a project of the Blue Ridge Conservancy.

During the month of July, businesses ask their customers to Round Up to the nearest dollar. Last year, 56 local businesses, plus hundreds of individual community donations, raised a total of $252,576. These funds were matched by state grants for the construction of Boone Gorge Park, which is slated to begin later this year. Once developed, Watauga County will own and maintain this park along the Middle Fork Greenway.

On this week's Mind Your Business, we'll get an update on current trail development from Wendy Patoprsty, Middle Fork Greenway Director, and hear about the specific projects this year's Round Up will help fund.

** SPECIAL ANNOUNCMENT** Stay tuned to the end of the episode for details on how businesses that do not have a high volume of daily transactions or retail traffic can join forces with the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce Foundation to donate to this year's Round Up!

Mind Your Business is a weekly production of the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce. It's made possible each week through the sponsorship support of Appalachian Commercial Real Estate.

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Call this the Town of Boone episode of Mind Your Business, as the bulk of the program is dedicated to the Boone Next project, a revisioning of the Town's Comprehensive Development plan. This week we hear from Jane Shook, Director of Planning & Inspections, and Jessica Mitchell, Advanced Planning Specialist, with the Town of Boone. They update the timeline on this important project, what types of information has been gathered thus far, and how the community can continue to lend their voice to this effort.

We are also coming off Boonerang 3.0, with well over 10,000 visitors fresh off an experience that combines nostalgia with arts and entertainment. We'll hear some updates on the weekend that was and share next year's dates!

We also have some information to share regarding parking on the App State campus and in and around the Downtown Community, again, with details on how the community can stay engaged in this important conversation.

Mind Your Business is produced each week by the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce and is made possible thanks to the sponsorship support of Appalachian Commercial Real Estate.

Support the Show.