Small Business Centers offer a range of services and assistance with accessing emergency funding opportunities to help businesses rebuild and stabilize during this challenging time.

Services offered by Blue Ridge Community College’s Small Business Center include:

• Small Business Disaster Counseling: Blue Ridge’s SBC team provides one-on-one disaster recovery counseling to help business owners identify losses, navigate the insurance claim process, and build comprehensive disaster recovery plans.

• Dislocated Business Incubator Space: For businesses unable to operate due to physical damage, the SBC offers incubator space on campus for temporary operations, pending availability and priority needs.

• Marketing and Operations Pivot: The SBC assists businesses in adjusting their marketing strategies and diversifying operations for both short- and long-term recovery efforts.

• Financial Data Recreation: For businesses that have lost vital financial records due to the storm, their team can help reconstruct essential financial data.

The Small Business Center can assist businesses in applying for emergency funding opportunities, such as:

• Small Business Administration Disaster Loans: The SBC is working closely with the Small Business Administration, which has set up a Business Recovery Center on Blue Ridge’s Transylvania County Campus. The SBA is a federal agency dedicated to providing low interest loans to businesses that have experienced loss of revenue or business property damage due to a disaster declaration by the president.

• Mountain BizWorks’ WNC Strong: Helene Business Recovery Fund: These Helene Business Recovery Fund loans are designed to provide rapid relief with 1% interest for the first year and no prepayment penalties. These rapid relief loans help small business owners bridge the gap between the disaster and the approval of federal loans, insurance payouts, and other disaster relief funds.

Ben Smith, Director of the Small Business Center at Blue Ridge Community College, emphasized the importance of acting quickly to take advantage of available resources. 

“Many of our local businesses have suffered immense physical and financial damage due to the hurricane,” he said. “The grants, loans, and counseling services we’re offering are designed to be lifelines, helping them get back on their feet and prepare for the long road to recovery.”

Business owners can contact the Blue Ridge SBC at 828-694-1658 or visit BlueRidge.edu/SBC for more information on available support and events. 

“Together, we can rebuild and ensure that our local businesses continue to thrive,” added Smith.

Additionally, the Small Business Center Network advises small businesses in WNC to use these resources:

• NC Division of Employment Security: Find unemployment benefits and support for North Carolina workers and small business owners.

DES.NC.gov

• SBA Disaster Assistance for Hurricane Helene: Get disaster loans to help your business recover due to physical damage or economic injury caused by Hurricane Helene. 

• FEMA Information and Resources: Access FEMA’s help and resources for disaster recovery.

• Farmers.gov Disaster Tool: A tool for farmers to determine their qualification for assistance following a disaster.

Source: Small Business Center at Blue Ridge Community College