Mountain BizWorks, in partnership with the WNC: Made by Mountains Partnership, the NC Outdoor Economy Office and the Outdoor Business Alliance of WNC, is excited to launch a second cohort of the Waypoint Resilience Program. The kick-off event welcomed 13 outdoor industry businesses committed to recovery and long-term growth following Hurricane Helene.
The program provides a structured path for outdoor businesses to recover forward and plan for a sustainable future. Participants engage in both mentorship and collaborative problem-solving while focusing on leadership development, financial planning, team dynamics, operational systems, and marketing approaches.
Facilitating the cohort is Russ Towers, Founder and co-owner of Second Gear, Asheville’s premier outdoor adventure consignment shop. Towers brings firsthand experience to the role: after Hurricane Helene destroyed Second Gear’s River Arts District location, he led the business through relocation and recovery. “The resilience of this cohort isn’t theoretical to me—I’m walking this path myself and can offer real insights from that journey,” Towers notes.
Cohort participants span a wide spectrum of the region’s outdoor economy: guiding and outfitting services, manufacturing operations, retail businesses, outdoor hospitality ventures, and more. In this peer-to-peer learning environment, they’ll gain support from each other as well as from session facilitators and coaches. Each participant will receive a $2,500 grant to support recovery strategies developed through the program, along with a scholarship for specialized coaching from industry experts.
“Over a year after Hurricane Helene, the outdoor industry in Western North Carolina is no longer focused solely on recovery—it is actively reimagining what comes next,” says Amy Allison, NC Outdoor Economy Office Director. “These business leaders are helping shape a more resilient, innovative, inclusive, and future-ready outdoor economy for the region.”
2026 Waypoint Resilience Cohort Participants
Adventure Center of Asheville is a family outdoor recreation destination in Asheville with guided and self guided activities, including aerial adventures, mountain bike experiences, and off road exploration.
Cactus to Pine Goods is an upcycling studio rooted in the Blue Ridge Mountains, transforming retired outdoor gear like rock climbing rope into durable, functional goods for everyday use.
Cornerstone Therapeutic Horsemanship, LLC offers equine-assisted psychotherapy and additional equine learning activities, including camps, therapeutic riding classes and more.
Earthshine Lodge is a retreat center that provides extraordinary experiences through curated retreats, group stays, outdoor education, and adventure programs. At its core, Earthshine exists to foster meaningful connections – connection to self, connection to others, and connection to the natural world.
Gravelo, LLC is a high-end bicycle and coffee shop, serving as a hub for Asheville’s cycling community.
GreenFlash Watersports is a family-owned outdoor adventure company that provides a variety of fun outdoor activities. Popular trips include brewery tours by kayak or SUP in the River Arts District of Asheville on the French Broad River, wake surfing / wakeboard waterski trips on Lake James, and a party bus service.
Headwaters Outfitters is a locally-owned outdoor outfitting company serving the French Broad River watershed and offering professionally guided fly fishing, canoeing, kayaking, and river-based adventures for individuals, families, and groups of all experience levels. In addition, visit their full-service outdoor retail shop in Brevard.
Lazy Tiger Hostel is a traveler’s hostel, providing short-term lodging for adventure travelers, and helping people’s stay in WNC be more memorable. It’s a place where strangers become friends.
Mountain Wellness and Physical Therapy, LLC helps outdoor enthusiasts stay active in the sports and hobbies they love by providing holistic, movement, and lifestyle-focused care through physical therapy and wellness services.
Resting Point Farms is a small family farm focusing on outdoor educational experiences, illustrated educational materials, sustainable housing, incubation for young farmers and nature-based entrepreneurs, ecosystem stewardship, mushroom cultivation, and gardening/mushroom cultivation products.
Run2Run, LLC produces high-quality washable visors and accessories designed for comfort and performance. Woman-owned and locally made, Run2Run is a Bat Cave–based brand built on persistence, creativity, and community connection.
Wai Mauna WNC Paddleboarding, LLC leads professionally guided paddleboard tours along the French Broad River in both Asheville and Brevard, plus rentable boards for self-guided river and lake adventures, delivered directly.
Wunderland Resort, LLC is an outdoor resort offering eco-adventure experiences & wellness amenities in the Blue Ridge Mountains. The Resort focuses on people and planet in nature’s playground.
Waypoint Resilience is supported by partnerships with the Appalachia Funders Network and North Carolina Community Foundation as part Mountain BizWorks’ WNC Strong: Recover Forward program.
Mountain BizWorks also hosts the annual Waypoint Accelerator to help high-potential outdoor industry businesses launch and grow in Western North Carolina. Join the interest list for the next Waypoint Accelerator program at waypointaccelerator.com.
