In this Issue of Hey Cherokee County…

✅ Growth in Andrews Masks a Demographic Shift Officials Say Can't Be Ignored

✅ Andrews Oktoberfest Returns With Live Music, Competitions and Expanded KidZone

Cherokee County Events

August 11th

August 13th

August 15th

August 20th

August 22nd

August 26th

September 10th

September 16th-19th

September 26th

October 31st

November 21st

Publisher’s Note: This is Part 2 of a three-part series based on an interview with Pam Hartley, a lead volunteer with Andrews Vision who also works statewide on education and workforce.

The population numbers for Andrews and Cherokee County look good on paper. More people moving in. Tourism rising. A regional economy that punches above its weight. But buried inside that growth story is a tension that Pam Hartley — lead volunteer with Andrews Vision and an education and workforce specialist who covers the 13 westernmost counties of North Carolina — says the community can't afford to ignore.

"We are growing, but the number of working age folks — that sort of prime working age — is shrinking in relation to the rest of the community of folks who aren't working," Hartley said. 

Like a lot of the western counties, Hartley said, Andrews is seeing the greatest growth with people who are age 55 and up. At the same time, the Andrews area is also seeing growth in residents younger than 18. On the surface, that sounds encouraging. A community gaining both retirees and children has energy on both ends.

The problem, Hartley said, sits squarely in the middle. The 25 to 44-year-old age group are the people who fill jobs, start businesses, pay into the tax base, and keep the local economy humming. And in Andrews, that share of the population is declining relative to everyone else.

"That really tells us we've really got to look after — we gotta keep working folks and families, we gotta keep them here," she said, "and then we've got to attract and be the kind of place that young people want to move to in order to have the businesses and the workforce that is available to support this growing community."

What’s needed to keep young families here or bring them back is not complicated, Hartley said, but it’s easier said than done. Young people graduating from local high schools must be able to see jobs, opportunities, and affordable housing in order to envision a future for themselves in the Andrews area. Families from outside the county who fall in love with the area also prioritize practical needs, she said. 

"Let's make sure that we've got child care and before and after care with schools so that they can raise their family here," Hartley said. "Let's make sure that we have health care for families that want to start a family here."

Building those conditions takes time. But what Andrews doesn't have to wait on is the jobs, Hartley said. They already exist. The employers are ready. As of press time, there are 2,483 unfilled jobs within 25 miles of Andrews, according to NCWorks. What's missing is the pipeline.

"Across all the western counties, including in Cherokee, Graham, and Clay County, there are three sectors that are the primary focus — manufacturing, skilled trades, and healthcare," Hartley said. "These are the three sectors that have risen to the top in terms of greatest need to fill jobs and also the jobs that are growing. They pay well and they're what we would call future proof."

That shortage of qualified workers isn't a local quirk — it's a statewide crisis, which lawmakers recognized in 2019 when they established a state goal to have 2,000,000 residents aged 25 to 44 complete a high-quality credential or postsecondary degree by the year 2030.

"Two thirds of our jobs in North Carolina need some sort of education beyond a high school diploma, but only one third of our citizens have that," Hartley said. "It's becoming more and more expensive to live in the mountain counties that we love, especially with the cost of housing and everything going up. We want to be able to afford to stay here in our own home counties. So how do we skill up and access these well-paying jobs that are available?"

Hartley answers that question by pointing to two resources that most people overlook. The first is NCWorks. 

"NCWorks is a great partner in this," she said. "They're really about matching — helping people explore what their interests are, what their skill sets are, connecting them into training and education programs, connecting them in if there are financial resources available for folks to be able to tap into those training programs, and then of course helping folks build resumes, prepare for interviews." 

The second resource is Tri-County Community College. 

"Our community college system of 58 community colleges across North Carolina is the envy of the entire country," Hartley said. "North Carolina has the strongest community college system of any state in the United States, and Tri-County right here is an incredible partner." 

The Town of Andrews is hosting a Public Visioning Session tonight, August 11th from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Andrews Community Center, 535 Main Street. Whether your interest is supporting local businesses, attracting new investment, or protecting what already makes this place worth staying for — town leaders encourage community members to attend and help build the town’s new Five-Year Strategic Economic Development Plan. 

In the next issue: The case against waiting on a factory — and the community-driven plan Andrews is building to shape its own economic future.  

Lederhosen, live music and a little friendly competition will take over Andrews this September as Oktoberfest returns with an expanded lineup of entertainment and family activities.

Andrews Oktoberfest 2026 is set for Saturday, Sept. 26, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., bringing together live bands, food, local vendors, a beer and wine garden, competitions and what organizers say will be the festival's most extensive children's area yet.

A lineup of regional favorites will keep the music going throughout the day, with Wooly Booger, Mark Henderson and Switchback Rocks scheduled to perform. To help bring that lineup to the stage, Visit Andrews is looking for additional band sponsors to help cover the cost of live music at this year’s Oktoberfest. 

TEAM has already signed on as a band sponsor, while Harrah's Cherokee Valley River Casino is serving as presenting sponsor and Franklin Fun Factory is sponsoring the KidZone. Additional opportunities remain for band sponsors, as well as a Pumpkin Decorating Sponsor and Beer Garden Sponsor.

This year’s festival will also mark a significant expansion of activities for younger visitors.

"This is the first year we've really gone all-in on creating a full KidZone," said Megan Wooten, events coordinator with Visit Andrews. "We'll have different sizes of bounce houses, activities and some other surprises for the kids. We want families to be able to come downtown and know there will be plenty for their children to enjoy throughout the day."

Adults will have plenty of opportunities to get involved, too.

Oktoberfest competitions planned for the day include the "Don't Spill a Drop" Stein Race, Tough Guy Stein-Holding Contest and Keg-Rolling Championship. Festivalgoers can also compete for Best Lederhosen or Dirndl, Best Beard, Best Moustache and Most Interesting Facial Hair. Prizes will be awarded to competition winners.

A beer and wine garden featuring selections from multiple vendors will add to the traditional Oktoberfest atmosphere.

Businesses interested in being a sponsor can contact Wooten at 828-541-9173 or [email protected]. 

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