Mainspring and Partners Protect BRP Views

January 27, 2025

JACKSON COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA (Jan. 23 2025) — The Conservation Fund announced today that a critical property in the Great Balsam Mountains of western North Carolina is protected as forest and natural land. The approximately 3,850-acre Balsam Gap property connects to 770,000 acres of previously conserved lands, and continues a 25-year legacy of federal, state and private investment to protect over 12,000 acres of working forest, wildlife habitat, watersheds and recreation land in the region.

The area around Balsam Gap is especially important in the long-term effort by The Conservation Fund and other organizations to protect land bordering the Blue Ridge Parkway, one of the National Park Service’s most visited sites attracting millions of visitors each year. The property shares almost four miles of boundary with the Blue Ridge Parkway and protects spectacular views along a 17-mile stretch of the Parkway, including five scenic overlooks.

“Our efforts to protect this property go back 25 years,” said Michael Leonard, a senior advisor and former TCF Board Chair who has played a central role in several landmark conservation projects in North Carolina. “While our initial efforts were unsuccessful and we feared we might have lost our chance for good, we kept at it because the proximity to the Blue Ridge Parkway made conserving this land vital. North Carolina is a special place, and the things that make it special for visitors and locals alike need to be protected. I’m thrilled that the years of perseverance by our dedicated staff and our partners, including private donors such as Fred and Alice Stanback and Brad and Shelli Stanback, brought about this rare second chance and a big conservation success.”

In addition to preserving the natural beauty of the Blue Ridge Parkway, conserving this property will add to the wealth of recreation opportunities in the area, support local tourism and timber jobs, sustain vital habitat and migration corridors for wildlife, and protect water quality from multiple headwaters. Nature-based recreation and tourism are significant drivers of the local economy, supporting thousands of jobs and generating almost $400 million in annual revenue for Jackson and Haywood counties alone. Taking steps to support and sustain that economic activity is especially important following the devastation Hurricane Helene brought to the region.

The property is now protected by two easements. Mainspring Conservation Trust helped make this conservation success possible by agreeing to hold and steward a 1,147-acre easement that expands an existing no-cut buffer adjacent to the Blue Ridge Parkway. A second 2,703-acre working forest easement, held by the State of North Carolina, will be stewarded by the North Carolina Forest Service. The properties will become a key portion of 55,000 acres of protected land in the Great Balsam Mountains.

“This project represents an incredible opportunity to protect a landscape rich in conservation values,” said Mainspring Executive Director Jordan Smith. “Its proximity to the Parkway and adjacency to already conserved lands made the decision to accept this conservation easement a clear choice for Mainspring’s staff and board. We are deeply grateful to The Conservation Fund for their collaboration and, most importantly, to the landowners for their generous contribution to conservation. Their gift will have a lasting impact on the region and North Carolina for generations to come.”

Members of North Carolina’s U.S. Congressional delegation — including U.S. Senator Thom Tillis and U.S. Representative Chuck Edwards, whose district includes Balsam Gap — expressed support for the project.

“North Carolina is home to some of our country’s most treasured natural resources,” said Senator Tillis. “Today’s announcement is an important milestone to protect those resources, including the Blue Ridge Parkway, for future generations to enjoy. I am proud to see this investment from the Great American Outdoors Act in North Carolina, and I thank The Conservation Fund and the Stanback family for their decades of work to bring this project to fruition.”

“It is important that we preserve our mountains for generations of Americans to enjoy, and I am glad to hear that The Conservation Fund has received a federal award for its project to protect the Great Balsam Mountains from development,” said Representative Edwards. “These funds invested in Western North Carolina will not only protect the natural beauty of the Blue Ridge Parkway, but it will also help spur recreation and tourism which are significant drivers of our local economy especially after the devastation of Hurricane Helene.”

“This conservation easement is a testament to the North Carolina Forest Service’s outstanding conservation partnerships,” said Jonathan Murray, the North Carolina Forest Service’s Forest Legacy Coordinator. “Thank you to the Stanback family, The Conservation Fund, the United States Forest Service Forest Legacy Program, Mainspring Conservation Trust, the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation, and private donors for your patience and persistence to conserving 2,703 acres of privately owned working forest. The working forest conservation easement will provide timber resources for the local timber economy, protect vital trout streams along Dark Ridge Creek and forever protect the natural beauty and serenity along this section of the Blue Ridge Parkway.”

Funding for this project comes the U.S. Forest Service Forest Legacy Program, Mainspring Conservation Trust, the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation and private donors. This project builds upon a 2002 U.S. Forest Legacy Program project.

Application for Conservation Outreach Associate (Closed)

October 17, 2024

Conservation Outreach Associate

Location: Cherokee/Clay County

Reports to: Conservation Outreach Director/Communications Director

Job Status: Full-time Salary Position

Salary Range: $35,000 – 42,000

Mainspring Conservation Trust, Inc. (Mainspring) is a nationally accredited, nonprofit conservation land trust and is one of the leading environmental organizations in western North Carolina. Mainspring employs a staff of fifteen, with an annual operating budget exceeding $1.9 million. Mainspring’s service area encompasses 1.8 million acres and includes the six western-most counties in North Carolina – Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Jackson, Macon and Swain – and northern Rabun County, Georgia.

Mainspring has conserved more than 32,000 acres since its inception in 1997. From more traditional conservation methods like conservation easements to programs that teach youth about the importance of clean water to transforming contaminated brownfield sites into green community spaces, Mainspring is the driving force for conservation in the Southern Blue Ridge.

Headquartered in Franklin, North Carolina, Mainspring seeks to hire a Conservation Outreach Associate to support our efforts in public outreach throughout our service area. The Conservation Outreach Associate will work closely with the Communications Director and the Conservation Outreach Director and will provide support to those positions. The position will be based out of Mainspring’s new office in Cherokee or Clay County, with responsibilities requiring regular travel throughout the region. The position will be expected to work nights and weekends at times.

Position Summary

Mainspring seeks a positive, outgoing, and creative outdoor enthusiast to join our team as Conservation Outreach Associate. This position will provide essential support to all areas of Mainspring’s outreach program, including but not limited to volunteer recruitment and management, event development and management, philanthropic development, and education program implementation. The Conservation Outreach Associate will be heavily involved in both internal and external activities, with a strong focus on donor cultivation, donor stewardship events, and promoting organizational awareness in the western part of Mainspring’s service area.

Responsibilities Essential Functions

Events (50%)

Responsible for managing timelines, budget, and strategic planning for assigned events and initiatives,
Working with the Communications Director and Conservation Outreach Director to organize and lead outreach events, including recreational activities such as hiking and paddling,
Lead the planning and coordination of stewardship and development events. From planning to execution, is engaged in the development of environmental education programs, workshops, socials, fundraisers, and other events.
Work to ensure excellent donor relations and a positive working relationship with vendors, community and business leaders, event sponsors/participants, volunteers, and donors.

Work with the Donor Relations Manager to produce reports on income and event progress and assist with volunteer and donor list maintenance,
Advertise and promote events through appropriate local channels including online platforms, print media, and community partners.
Provide all necessary communication with event attendees, including emails and phone calls, to ensure participants are informed of event details and any changes,
Prepare materials for events in advance, and bring appropriate merchandise, newsletters, and other related materials to events,
Expected to work all western-based events, and have a presence at select eastern-based events.

Volunteer Management (25%)

Ensure effective communication and consistent engagement with recruiting, training, and maintaining volunteers. Actively communicate with volunteers before, during and after events to ensure they feel valued and return to assist with future events,
Foster relationships with upwards of 350 volunteers for various Mainspring events and initiatives.
Manage tracking/reporting of all volunteer communications and activities in Little Green Light or similar program,
Work with all Mainspring program managers to determine volunteer support needs.

Education and other (25%)

Foster contacts with schools/teachers/camps within Mainspring’s service area,
Develop and implement age/grade-appropriate programs,
Manage education projects, including:
- Budget
- Grant writing & reporting
- Evaluating effectiveness of programs and updating curricula,
- Intern training
Assist with our biannual publications, contributing information about events and other relevant news
Engage and cultivate potential donors through outreach, education, and stewardship events,
Other duties as assigned.

Other Related Functions

Enjoy and value the outdoors. Authenticity is vital to the success of this position.
Participate actively to ensure compliance in assigned areas of responsibilities.
Regularly analyze and evaluate the effectiveness of all assigned projects.
Proactively seek process improvement in a solution-focused manner.

Qualifications

Experience in a combination of the following areas:
- Event coordination and/or management.
- Volunteer management and recruitment.
- Adult and youth education.
Working knowledge of outdoor recreation, including familiarity with local trails and public recreation areas, or serious willingness to learn. The ideal candidate will be comfortable leading groups of people in the woods and on the water, with experience in both hiking and basic kayaking.
Personal passion for nature, including but not limited to hunting, fishing, hiking, foraging, camping, birding, “herping,” etc.
Experience managing social media platforms, including Facebook and Instagram.
Excellent time management and people skills.
Experience cultivating and securing event sponsors.
Effective verbal and written communication skills, especially related to science.
Strong preference for candidates who live in or are willing to relocate to Cherokee or Clay County, NC, and who value involvement in their local community.
Lift/carry equipment (up to 30#).
Disciplined to work independently.
Associate or Bachelor’s degree in a related field including STEM, communications, psychology, education, etc.
Ability to work weekends or weekday evenings.

To Apply:
Qualified candidates must submit a cover letter, resume, and references by Friday, November 15, 2024 to this email address.

Historic Siler/Jones House Gifted to Mainspring

May 23, 2024

Some of the interior walls of the Siler/Jones house contain logs from a cabin built before 1820.

For more than two hundred years, the Siler/Jones House on East Main Street in Franklin has evolved—serving as a farmstead, a boarding house, a beacon of hospitality, and a home to generations of descendants of Franklin’s first white settler, Jesse R. Siler. It stood as a silent witness to history, and now, it will witness another change. Earlier this month, the Jones Family completed a plan to ensure the lasting legacy of the home by transferring “the House at the foot of the hill,” as it is affectionately known, to Mainspring Conservation Trust. The gift opens doors to a future of restoration, conservation, education, and invitation.

Dick Jones, who will turn 90 years old in May and grew up in the house, reflected on the family’s decision. “We had long discussions, including my wife, Melissa, our children, Laura and Fred and his wife, Jennifer, and our grandchildren about their dreams for the property’s future. We felt it was time to entrust this important piece of our family legacy, and really our community’s legacy, to an organization committed to preserving our collective cultural heritage.”

The current generation of the Jones Family collectively chose to donate the home to Mainspring.

Back in 1820, Jesse Siler, a pioneer instrumental in shaping the modern-day town of Franklin, purchased the property from the State of North Carolina. Over the years, the humble log cabin that came with the land underwent considerable transformations. For more than 60 years, the home remained in the Siler family. This changed in 1888, when Jesse’s son, Julius Grady Siler, swapped properties with his Siler cousin, Harriett, and her husband, Judge George Jones. Under their care, the home was extensively renovated and extended. It has remained in the Jones family since then, witnessing the growth and demands of time and new generations of Jones families. The Siler/Jones home’s significance was firmly established when it earned a place on the National Historic Register in 1982.

Jordan Smith, Mainspring’s executive director, emphasized the importance of the house’s historical ties. “Not only is the home significant as a symbol of early Appalachia, it now has a connection to the Removal in 1830,” he stated. In 2023, a Route Refinement on the Trail of Tears determined that the trail followed the road directly in front of the Siler/Jones House. Since the home was standing and occupied at the time of Removal, that designation would make it the only known Witness House on the (refined) National Historic Trail in North Carolina, a testament to its unique historical significance.

The refined map of the Trail of Tears Route runs directly in front of Jesse Siler’s former home.

The gift of the home to Mainspring makes it eligible for substantial funding to support its restoration and renovation. Molly Phillips is leading that process for Mainspring and says the restoration will be informed by its past roles while looking forward to future use. “This home holds countless stories within its walls, just waiting to be unearthed,” she says. “It will be a challenging project, but deeply rewarding to peel back those layers of history.”

Demo work has already begun under the management of Jim Byrd Construction. While immediate structural issues are being assessed, Mainspring is considering the best use of the restored home. “There are so many potential outcomes we’ve discussed,” Phillips said. “The Jones family has emphasized to us how this place has been a central site for people to gather to work together and solve problems that enhance this community,” she said. “Whatever happens, we hope to honor that legacy of unity and action that has defined the Siler/Jones house for generations.”

When Fred Jones considers the gift, he recalls an entry from Jesse Siler’s 1832 diary, where Siler describes his motivation for giving land for the Methodist Church to begin. The diary states: “Some particular incidents of my life enable me to look back and see both the movements and sentiments of my middle life . . . In 1829, I joined the Methodist Church. Being few in number, I thought of my promise to my Maker and accordingly set to work to build a church.” As Fred now says about this gift, those echoes of history are inescapable. “Our family values the beauty of these mountains, the valleys’ warmth, and the cool, clear waters that flow. We cherish the memory of those who have gone before and are committed to abundant opportunity for those who follow. Mainspring is the perfect partner for this special place, as its whole purpose is to preserve our natural and cultural resources and to make our region a place with deep roots and far-reaching branches. We are so pleased to partner with Mainspring and cannot wait to see what the future will bring.”

Mainspring Executive Director Jordan Smith shakes hands with Fred Jones. Holding Fred’s other hand is his father, Richard Jones, who grew up in the Siler/Jones home.

Mainspring Conservation Trust is a regional nonprofit dedicated to saving important places in the Southern Blue Ridge. For more information, visit www.mainspringconserves.org.

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