BOONE AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES 4TH ROUND OF HOPE FOR THE HIGH COUNTRY BUSINESS RESILIENCY DISASTER GRANTS

BOONE, NC - After awarding grants to over 200 businesses in its previous funding rounds, the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce Foundation has reopened applications for its Hope for the High Country: Hurricane Helene Business Resiliency Disaster Grants. This program is available to disaster impacted small businesses in Watauga, Ashe, and Avery Counties. 

Grant applications will be accepted through Monday, September 29, at 12:00 PM. Previous applicants and recipients may apply, but priority will be given to those businesses that have yet to receive funding through earlier rounds.

 

Since late September 2024, the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce Foundation has distributed $1,184,500 in donated funds to local businesses. That includes $978,500 over three previous rounds of business resiliency disaster grants and $206,000 for October 2024 tuition payments made to local licensed early childhood development centers and in-home care providers in partnership with The Children’s Council of Watauga County.  

"Almost a year later, small businesses in our community still need help," said David Jackson, President/CEO of the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce. "While a steady return of visitors has benefited many of our tourism-focused businesses, it's important to note that not every business plays to that audience, and just because traffic has returned to our main streets and storefronts, there has been very little assistance offered to specifically account for the revenue loss suffered after the storm last fall. We hope that by addressing revenue loss specifically with this round, we will be able to impact those that used their savings to handle cash-flow and repair needs and help them to be in a more stable position heading into the latter portion of the calendar year."

 

The Boone Area Chamber of Commerce Foundation remains focused on helping with community and business relief in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene’s impact on the High Country. The 501(c)(3) non-profit organization continues to fundraise for this round of disaster grant funding in order to distribute as much funding as possible to impacted businesses. 

For more information or to donate, please visit www.boonechamber.com/foundation or contact Ethan Dodson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..