ATLANTA – In response to the impact of Tropical Storm Helene on Western North Carolina on Sept. 25, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is collaborating with local partners to provide resources to help business owners rebuild and recover. The McDowell Tech Small Business Center and the Marion Business Association will host a Small Business Recovery Resource Fair in Old Fort on Tuesday, Nov. 12, beginning at 8:30 a.m.
The fair will offer vital resources and assistance for small businesses and others affected by the disaster. Attendees will have access to a range of support services to aid in their recovery efforts.
“The Resource Fair is intended to showcase federal financial assistance programs from SBA and FEMA,” commented SBA North Carolina District Director Mike Arriola. “In addition, other resource partners in the small business ecosystem in McDowell County and Western North Carolina will be on hand to offer services such as business counseling, bridge loans, and other assistance to help small business owners recover and rebound from the effects of Hurricane Helene,” Arriola continued.
Other resources available at the fair will include McDowell Tech Community College Small Business Center, Marion Business Association, North Carolina Small Business and Technology Development Center, SCORE, the Western Women’s Business Center, Mountain BizWorks, McDowell Chamber of Commerce, and Destination McDowell.
“We meet the business community where they are by helping them navigate our extensive resource partner network,” said Francisco Sánchez, Jr., associate administrator for the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA. “Business owners can connect with our specialists to apply for SBA disaster loans and get information on the full breadth of our programs.”
The event will take place at the new McDowell Tech Community College Workforce Education Center in downtown Old Fort at 49 East Main Street. Parking is available at First Baptist Church at 203 East Main Street, Old Fort.
Registration is open to small businesses, non-profit organizations, and the entrepreneurial community seeking to network and gain valuable resource information.
Registration is as follows:
Date
Location
Time
Registration
Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024
McDowell Technical Community College – Workforce Education Center
8:30 a. m. – 11:30 a.m.
Register for Old Fort Small Business Recovery Resource Fair
On October 15, 2024, it was announced that funds for the Disaster Loan Program have been fully expended. While no new loans can be issued until Congress appropriates additional funding, we remain committed to supporting disaster survivors. Applications will continue to be accepted and processed to ensure individuals and businesses are prepared to receive assistance once funding becomes available.
Applicants are encouraged to submit their loan applications promptly for review in anticipation of future funding.
With the changes to FEMA’s Sequence of Delivery, survivors are now encouraged to simultaneously apply for FEMA grants and the SBA low-interest disaster loan assistance to fully recover. FEMA grants are intended to cover necessary expenses and serious needs not paid by insurance or other sources. The SBA disaster loan program is designed for your long-term recovery, to make you whole and get you back to your pre-disaster condition. Do not wait on the decision for a FEMA grant, apply online and receive additional disaster assistance information at sba.gov/disaster.
Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.
Submit completed loan applications to SBA no later than Nov. 27, 2024. The deadline to submit economic injury applications is June 30, 2025.
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About the U.S. Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow or expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.