ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — More than 2,100 small businesses across Western North Carolina are getting a much-needed boost thanks to a $55 million funding initiative announced by Gov. Josh Stein last month.
The Western North Carolina Small Business Initiative, supported by the Dogwood Health Trust, the Duke Endowment and the State of North Carolina, distributed grants to 2,182 businesses impacted by recent storms and economic disruption. The funding has helped business owners recover from losses, make critical repairs and retain workers.
In Burnsville, Pig and Grits Barbecue used the grant to replace damaged equipment, support employees and cover insurance shortfalls.
“It allowed us to buy some equipment, to take care of some of our employees that needed some help, and helped us rebuild our inventory and pay for some of the flooring and repairs and stuff that insurance didn’t cover completely,” the owners said. “Volunteers have come from all over, and we want to say thank you for that. We are open for business and would look forward to serving anyone.”
In Morganton, Henry River Farms lost a full strawberry crop and saw agritourism and field trip revenues dry up after severe weather.
“The grant helped us with our operating cost and our repair cost for some of our infrastructure that was lost during the storm,” said a farm representative.
Strawberries account for a third of the farm’s income, farm officials said.
“Just having access to funds to help us keep, you know, going as we’re going to have this through the spring where we don’t have our normal income, has been a huge help.”
Carolina Native Nursery in Burnsville sustained damage to more than 100 greenhouses.
“Without the Dogwood Grant, it would just take us that much more time to recover,” the business said. “It helped us keep people on payroll. So this $50,000 really goes a long way to jump us forward, to get us back to where we’re going to be.”
Stein has pushed for additional federal support. His administration urged Congress and the Trump administration to approve $19 billion in disaster relief and reform FEMA processes to make disaster response more efficient. His latest budget proposal includes $891 million for economic recovery and infrastructure improvements across the region.
Recovery is ongoing, Stein has said, while encouraging people to visit Western North Carolina and support the small businesses that make these communities strong.