Economic concerns and local economic reactions: 'I wasn’t impressed with him' — WNC community reacts to Trump's State of the Union address
Dawn Sewell, a waitress of six years at Mike’s on Main Sandwich Shop in Hendersonville, said what President Donald Trump said about the economic claims did not resonate as she watched a portion of his State of the Union speech on Tuesday, Feb. 24. Sewell said she voted for President Donald Trump in his second term and that business at the sandwich shop has been down since Helene but may be slightly coming back.
Local voices in Hendersonville react
Sewell described her job as a waitress at Mike’s on Main Sandwich Shop as one she enjoys, noting her readiness with a smile and good service. She said she’s unsure of what to expect with business and the economy in Hendersonville but will continue to work hard in her shifts. A photo caption included the date FEB. 25, 2026 alongside coverage of her comments.
Business after Helene storm
At the sandwich shop, Sewell said business has been down since Helene but may be slightly coming back. That note of softness on Main Street matched other local remarks about how the storm and post-Helene market conditions have affected employment and demand.
Construction concerns and inflation effects
Aaron Black, a home and commercial builder with a construction business whose main office is on Main Street, said he is feeling inflation’s effects. "I feel like it’s kicking everyone in the teeth, including myself, " Black said. He added, "For us, the economy’s great, " even as he cautioned that he is not so sure about others in Henderson County and said he feels people are hurting. Black also said current data for jobs in western North Carolina doesn’t paint a clear picture of the current economic trend for the region, up or down.
Workforce data from Mountain Area
The Mountain Area Workforce Development Board produced a study that crunched jobs and employment data for Henderson, Buncombe, Madison, and Transylvania counties since 2020. The report showed the following unemployment percentages for the counties. The study found that from 2020 to 2025, jobs increased by 9. 4%, which is just 1. 2% below the national growth of 10. 6%. But looking closely at the trends, 2025 had fewer jobs in the four-county region compared to 2024. A separate headline noted unemployment down to 3. 2% in Western NC, the Mountain Area Workforce Development Board says.
Economic impact at Marion's Baxter
Two major regional manufacturers in the past 60 days announced major layoffs. Baxter in Marion, which makes IV medical devices, said 90 workers would be let go due to the economic impacts of Helene. Another headline stated Baxter eliminates 3% of Marion facility's workforce, citing post-Helene market conditions.
Worries about a slowdown or recession
Cohen warned, "I worry about a slowdown or a recession. " Cohen added there are "a lot of policies that are creating uncertainty, and so we’re trying to see how companies, businesses, and households are reacting to those policies. " Cohen said the U. S. economy continues to power through a lot of this uncertainty, which makes people more optimistic that it may continue to power through, but he emphasized, "I think there are definitely worrying trends. "
Residents and business owners in Hendersonville expressed mixed reactions to President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address, with some questioning how national claims about jobs and inflation match Main Street experience and with local data and layoffs underscoring unequal impacts across the region.
