Editor’s note: See the link at the end of this story for a video of the meeting.

Tryon residents and businesses owners may be pulling together to save not only the town’s mascot, Morris, but also downtown business.

Local organizers held a meeting Monday, July 9 at the Tryon Depot to brainstorm ideas on how to renew, remake and rebuild Tryon’s economy.
Organizers said they expected about a dozen people to attend, but people kept coming in droves, eventually packing the meeting room, with many standing patiently outside on the porch trying to hear what was being discussed.
Andy Millard of Millard & Company, who facilitated the meeting, said he originally printed out 80 surveys, then printed 50 more and ran out again.
“Ghost town, my eye,” Millard said as he started the meeting.
Packing the depot room were 157 people, many of them standing along the walls and others sitting on the floor. Another 25 stood outside on the porch.
“That is success right there,” Millard said. “Thank you so much again for coming.”
The meeting included a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) analysis of Tryon, with participants voicing ideas of the town’s strengths and weaknesses and what they think can be done to create a sustainable business environment.
After participants filled out surveys about downtown Tryon businesses, Polk County Economic Development Director Libbie Johnson and Tryon property owner Noell Guffey gave reports.
Johnson said she’s called around to other areas and asked a lot of questions and listened. She said before Tryon beats itself up about what is wrong, people need to realize Tryon has a lot of assets and historical significance.
“We have stuff that other towns would kill to have,” Johnson said.