skip to main content | skip to footer
N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources

NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Mountain Resources Commission - Mountain Resources Commission

Mountain Resources Commission

Sunbeams on Mount Mitchell trail

Initiatives

Western North Carolina Vitality Index

<a href='http://www.wncvitalityindex.org' _fcksavedurl='http://www.wncvitalityindex.org'>www.wncvitalityindex.org</a>On June 15, 2012, the Mountain Resources Commission released the Western North Carolina Vitality Index at an event held at Grandfather Mountain. The index, created in partnership with the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area and the U.S. Forest Service Southern Research Station, took over a year to develop and utilized the expertise of public and private sector representatives and university faculty, including the staff of the Renaissance Computing Institute (RENCI) at the University of North Carolina-Asheville.

The Western North Carolina Vitality Index reports on the 27 counties of Western North Carolina through the perspectives of the region’s natural, social, built and economic environments. The index was designed to assist local governments, interest groups and the public in furtherance of the Mountain Resources Commission's overall mission to "take care of our natural resources to enhance and sustain quality of life and ensure the long term health of our region and our people." 

The index can be used by local government officials, interest groups and the public to:

  • Preserve the heritage and culture that defines western North Carolina communities while strengthening public health.
  • Improve the region’s local economic activity and expand its influence.
  • Promote development that accommodates healthy growth.
  • Protect the region’s unique natural resources.
  • Compare western North Carolina to the rest of the state and the nation.

The Western North Carolina Vitality Index serves as a free online resource, providing the 183-page report for download, a directory of data searchable by category and a GIS viewer for integrating multiple data sets. 

Click here for information about workshops to familiarize and train practitioners using the WNC Vitality Index. 
Web Content Display Web Content Display

Mountain Resources Commission • 2090 U.S. Highway 70, Swannanoa, NC 28778 • • 828-296-4523
5060081 FEEDBACK

Your input is valuable to us. Please send us your feedback.

What type of feedback would you like to send?*

Ask a Question Report a Problem Have a Concern Make a Comment

(If you would like us to respond please include your phone or e-mail.)

Your Question has been sent. Thank you!

An internal server error prevented Your Question from being sent.
Please try again later, or call Toll-Free (877) 623-6748 for immediate assistance.

Please complete all highlighted items

Your Problem has been sent. Thank you!

An internal server error prevented Your Question from being sent.
Please try again later, or call Toll-Free (877) 623-6748 for immediate assistance.

Please complete all highlighted items

Your Concern has been sent. Thank you!

An internal server error prevented Your Question from being sent.
Please try again later, or call Toll-Free (877) 623-6748 for immediate assistance.

Please complete all highlighted items

Your Comment has been sent. Thank you!

An internal server error prevented Your Question from being sent.
Please try again later, or call Toll-Free (877) 623-6748 for immediate assistance.

Please complete all highlighted items

*If you are a DENR employee with an I.T. issue, please submit a DOTS ticket.