Andrews – Pam Hartley, the regional impact manager with myFutureNC, loves to tell her story.
It started with a global love story of her parents during World War II in England and Warsaw, Poland, then travels to her time as a child on an egg farm in Valleytown. From there it’s her graduation from Andrews High School to time away raising a family in eastern North Carolina to her recent return to the Valley. She knows that story has impact and can further work to shape this area in a positive direction.
MyFutureNC is a compendium of resources geared toward revitalizing rural areas in the 13 westernmost counties and Qualla Boundary with a goal of helping residents retain jobs by attaining accreditation in job fields with a goal of “2 million by 2030.”
The group’s research led to findings five years ago that two-thirds of jobs in the state require some form of education beyond high school. Concentrating on the community’s ability to life up individuals and foster “stakeholder engagement” from local businesses and residents, the group wants to draw from its “homegrown talent base.”
Hartley’s working with the initiative with myFutureNC is to propel the community into utilizing both the “possibility and opportunity” of Andrews in recognizing its history as “a crossroads for differing industries from logging in the early parts of the 20th century to a current trend of recreational tourism” to capitalize upon Andrews’ unique placement within western North Carolina.
That work is taking form of the Main Street Vision, which will hold its next meeting Tuesday, Aug. 26, at the Andrews Community Center. Doors are opening at 5:30 p.m., with the meeting starting at 6 p.m.
Hartley led an initial meeting in June at Morning Fog Coffee & Eats to assess community interest and involvement. The group of 20 included former educators, pastors, Realtors, veterans, and members and leaders of local chambers of commerce.
Hartley hopes the group will grow. With this next meeting, she is looking forward to having “conversations to share ideas about revitalizing and strengthening Main Street” – along with attracting anyone who cares about Andrews and wants to share in and “gather our community’s vision and honor our small-town identity.”
The first idea Hartley has on the table is to define “stakeholder,” which is to mean anyone who lives in or is interested in Andrews’ future. With the recent sales of the West End Plaza property along with the recent reopening of Cups & Cones and the changing of hands and re-brand at The Dog House, local businesses are looking for both qualified employees and the town is looking to keep this upward trend in the local economy.
Main Street Vision invites everyone to “help shape Andrews’ next chapter – together” with an emphasis on community involvement.
Details: Visit myfuturenc.org.
Want to go?
- What: Andrews Main Street Vision community meeting.
- When: 6 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 26.
- Where: Andrews Community Center, 535 Main St.
- Why: This is your chance to share ideas, voice your thoughts and help shape the future of Main Street and downtown.
- Details: See visitandrewsnc.com.