Last Updated on May 13, 2025 4:00 pm
BOONE, NC – With over 160 requests received through Hope for the High Country: Hurricane Helene Business Resiliency Disaster Grants, the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce Foundation has recently awarded an additional $520,000 to 61 High Country businesses in its third round of funding. Through three funding rounds, 209 businesses have received disaster grant funding totaling $978,500.
Since late September, the Chamber Foundation has distributed $1,184,500 in donated funds to local businesses.
Included in this third-round of funding is $400,000 from Mountain BizWorks that was distributed within eight-specific rural main street communities in Ashe, Avery, and Watauga counties as part of its Rebuilding Together grant program. Chamber Foundation and Mountain BizWorks staff identified 23 businesses that fit the criteria for this allocation, which added critical capacity to this round of funding.
In addition to its most recent allocation, the distributed total includes $344,500 to 86 businesses in the opening rounds of Hope for the High Country. Soon after Helene’s impact was felt, $206,000 was raised and allocated for October 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.
“As our region continues to show daily improvement from the physical impacts of the storm, the economic burden of lost revenues, repairs, and disruption is still an ongoing factor for many of our local businesses,” said David Jackson, President and CEO of the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce. “We are grateful for the continued support of the generous donors and funding organizations, like Mountain BizWorks, that are helping these businesses return to capacity, rehire staff, and finish preparations for the upcoming summer tourism season. In addition to providing a new grant funding source, the Mountain BizWorks team will remain active with our local business community, providing valuable consultations and technical assistance that will further enhance the road to economic recovery.”
“Small businesses are the economic backbone of our Western North Carolina communities. Helping our hard-hit local businesses recover from the storm is essential to ensuring the Helene natural disaster doesn’t turn into a prolonged economic disaster. We are grateful for the leadership of the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce and the opportunity to support the Hope for the High Country grants program”, said Matt Raker, Executive Director, Mountain BizWorks.
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 501c3 non-profit organization is continuing to raise funds to address its focus areas of small business recovery, childcare, housing support and workforce development.
For more information or to donate, please visit or contact Ethan Dodson at ethan@boonechamber.com.
About the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce Foundation
The Boone Area Chamber of Commerce Economic Development Commission, Inc. (BACC EDC, Inc), also known as the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce Foundation, is a 501(c)3 organization created to solicit, manage, and distribute funds and resources to further the development and welfare of the Boone, NC and Watauga County, NC, area through activities which are exclusively charitable, educational, or scientific.
