Nature Trails LLC, a nationally recognized, vertically integrated trail design and construction firm, announced today its plans to relocate their corporate headquarters and fabrication shop to Transylvania County, NC. The company will refurbish a vacant industrial building in the City of Brevard investing $1.4 million and creating 28 new, full-time jobs by 2029, in addition to the 22 existing employees reporting from the new Brevard facility.

Founded in 2017, Nature Trails LLC is a family-owned business specializing in the design, development, implementation and maintenance of turn-key recreation trail systems for developers, local governments, nonprofits and private landowners. The expansion of their fabrication shop to Brevard will enable Nature Trails to expand their internal manufacturing capabilities of parks and recreation assets such as kiosks, signs, benches and action sports ramps, while positioning the company for future growth.

Nature Trails LLC currently employs 17 remote, field-based employees that will be based from the new corporate headquarters in Brevard. Five employees will permanently relocate to Transylvania County, in addition to the new, 28 full-time positions. With hubs in North Carolina and Utah, the company’s portfolio extends across the country, with a primary focus on trail construction projects in the Southeast that support conservation, recreation, and community development. Nature Trails is no stranger to Western North Carolina, having worked on projects in collaboration with Pisgah Area SORBA, City of Asheville, Town of Spruce Pine, G5 Trail Collective, Dupont State Forest, and private landowners throughout the region.

“As demand for our services, designs, and products continue to grow, we are excited to commit to expanding our workforce to better serve our clients and implementing more robust manufacturing of our trail features in-house” said Matt Malone, co-owner of Nature Trails, LLC, “Western North Carolina is the epicenter of the East Coast’s outdoor recreation industry and Transylvania County’s brand is something we’re excited to align with – both our customers and employees want to be here.”

“Nature Trails’ decision to invest in Transylvania County reflects both the strength of our outdoor economy and the county’s commitment to attracting high wage manufacturing and professional employment,” said Jason Chappell, Chair of Transylvania County Board of Commissioners, “this company will offer a variety of different types of jobs that will be accessible to our county’s workforce across education and skill levels - we’re excited for this partnership and to play a role in fueling this company’s growth.”

“Brevard, often recognized as a primary hub of Western North Carolina’s outdoor recreation economy, offers the natural assets and community support that perfectly align with Nature Trail’s mission,” shared Maureen Copelof, Mayor of the City of Brevard, “as the birthplace of forestry in the United States, our community has a unique and rich history of conservation, outdoor recreation and manufacturing employment – Nature Trails’ relocation and expansion into the City is a unique blend our economic past and future.”

Shelia Carland, Chair of Transylvania Economic Alliance Board of Directors shared, “Nature Trails’ expansion to Transylvania County is a good example of how nurturing the growth of a robust economic cluster generates new investment and job creation. Transylvania County’s outdoor economy has deeply established recreation, conservation, and retailers serving the outdoor industry, now we’re starting to see professional and manufacturing job growth follow - this sector is inseparable from our economic identity, you could say it’s in our nature.”

Nature Trails’ expansion into Transylvania County was generously supported by both the NC Department of Commerce and the Transylvania County Board of Commissioners and was a collaborative project between the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina (EDPNC) and the Transylvania Economic Alliance (TEA). Training will be deployed and supported by Blue Ridge Community College through the EdgeNC Customized Training Program. 

Source: Transylvania Economic Alliance.