In a year marked by both climate disaster and economic uncertainty, our partners at Just Economics and the Living Wage Coalition of Transylvania County have stepped up in powerful ways to support workers, uplift wages, and hold decision-makers accountable.
🌀 Responding to Hurricane Helene
When Hurricane Helene tore through Western North Carolina, Just Economics paused regular programming and pivoted fully to crisis advocacy. With many workers losing income, homes, and jobs, they amplified the voices of those left behind by slow-moving and inadequate relief efforts.
Their Helene response included:
- Calling for a statewide eviction moratorium
- Demanding small business grants for storm-impacted WNC employers
- Testifying at the General Assembly to oppose tax cuts for the wealthy while poor and working-class residents face eviction and job loss
As Living Wage Coordinator Sam Stites told lawmakers in Raleigh:
“Wealthy individuals and corporations should not be getting tax cuts when working Western North Carolinians are being evicted and small businesses are shuttering.”
Stites called out the legislature’s refusal to fund $10 million in rental assistance and small business aid, urging lawmakers to match infrastructure spending with support for the people most impacted by disaster.
Since 2024, employers in Transylvania County have invested over $200,000 in wage increases in order to meet local Living Wage Certification standards. These aren’t just numbers—they’re rent paid, groceries purchased, and stability secured for dozens of local families.
The coalition also:
- Successfully lobbied the City of Brevard to raise its wage floor for city workers to meet the 2025 Living Wage rate.
- Advocated for county employees—the largest workforce in Transylvania County—who remain among the lowest paid in comparable counties.
- Partnered with the Transylvania County Association of Educators to secure the first county supplement increase for public school employees in 11 years.
- Launched the State of Work Survey, inviting local workers to share their stories and struggles directly.
⚖️ Why This Matters
Transylvania County faces severe wealth inequality, where public sector workers, hospitality staff, youth, and undocumented laborers are often paid below livable wages. Hurricane Helene only deepened this divide. In the absence of comprehensive relief, organizations like Just Economics are fighting to protect what matters most—people’s ability to live, work, and recover with dignity.
