News

The LoveHendo Business Recovery Fund has awarded $272,000 in grants to 90 local businesses affected by Hurricane Helene, providing critical, short-term funding to support Henderson County’s economy.

The fund was created to support Henderson County businesses in their recovery efforts and was made possible through the collaboration of a dedicated task force of local partner organizations.

Grants ranged from $1,000 to $10,000 and were awarded based on a scoring system that assessed physical and economic losses, as well as the potential impact of the funds in helping businesses remain open or reopen. The goal of the initiative was to prevent further deterioration of Henderson County's business community and support economic stability. Over 130 applications were received, requesting over $1 million to support physical and economic losses totaling over $9 million in Henderson County. Approximately 60 percent of grant funds went to tourism-related businesses, including 25 percent of total grants supporting businesses in downtown Hendersonville.

“The LoveHendo Business Recovery Fund was designed to serve as a vital lifeline for our local businesses as they navigate the challenges of post-disaster recovery,” said Bob Williford, president of the Henderson County Chamber of Commerce. “While we know these grants cannot completely undo the damage caused by Hurricane Helene, they have helped business owners take crucial steps toward rebuilding and sustaining their operations.”

Statistics from the Small Business Administration indicate that nearly half (43 percent) of small businesses impacted by a disaster never reopen, and an additional 29 percent close within two years. The overwhelming support from the Henderson County community highlights its resilience and commitment to fostering economic recovery and growth.

“We have received a LoveHendo grant, and it has been extremely helpful toward our recovery,” said Bill Trometer of Asheville Thermoform Plastics, located in Fletcher. “We are 80 percent back to manufacturing and about 75 percent complete on our facility repairs. Our recovery is a tribute to our dedicated employees who have and continue to work tirelessly to make it happen. We have also been blessed with the LoveHendo Grant and a recovery loan from Mountain BizWorks. I applaud your efforts to get the word out that we got knocked down but not out, and we are coming back and will be better and stronger than ever.”

The LoveHendo Business Recovery Fund was created through a partnership between the Henderson County Chamber of Commerce, the Henderson County Tourism Development Authority, the Henderson County Partnership for Economic Development, the Small Business Center at Blue Ridge Community College, and the Friends of Downtown Hendersonville. The fund development management was supported by the Community Foundation of Henderson County.

Funding for the grant program was provided by Optimum, First Citizens Bank, Duke Energy, the Community Foundation of Henderson County Mud & Flood Fund, Henderson County Chamber of Commerce, the Henderson County Tourism Development Authority, the Henderson County Partnership for Economic Development, the Friends of Downtown Hendersonville, Mountain BizWorks, United Community Federal Credit Union, Henderson Oil, First Bank, Truist Bank, Democratic Women of Henderson County, Forrest Women’s Club of GFWC Chapter, Jabil, Park National Bank, Horizon Heat & Air, Dry Falls Brewery and over 25 individual donors and fundraising events.

Additional Support for Western North Carolina Businesses is available through Appalachian Community Capital and not affiliated with the LoveHendo Business Recovery Fund. Over $35 million is committed through public-private partnerships with the State of North Carolina, Dogwood Health Trust, and Duke Endowment to provide a second round of the WNC Small Business Initiative grant program. Applications for this grant are open until February 21. Businesses can apply at: https://appalachiancommunitycapitalcdfi.org/wnscb-grant/