Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small Business Administration has opened a Business Recovery Center inside the Mayland Community College Small Business Center in Spruce Pine. SBA’s Customer Service Representatives are available at the Center to answer questions, assist business owners complete their disaster loan application, accept documents, and provide updates on an application’s status. Walk-ins are accepted, but you can call to schedule an in-person appointment at 828-766-1296. Additional information and hours are detailed below.
The SBA Provides low-interest loans to businesses or homeowners/individuals for disaster recovery efforts. Apply now. You do not have to know when you are going to reopen yet and you do not have to accept it or disperse it immediately, but they are suggesting for business owners and anyone looking for this type of loan to apply ASAP.
- Link online: Disaster assistance | U.S. Small Business Administration (sba.gov)
- Phone Number: 800-659-2955 from 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. ET Monday through Friday. If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.
Email: disastercustomerservice@sba.gov
Mountain BizWorks Announces WNC Strong: Helene Business Recovery Fund
The federal government has additionally made loans available through the SBA. The WNC Strong: Helene Business Recovery Fund will complement the SBA by providing a bridge until businesses can access funding from the SBA or other longer term relief programs.
“The Golden LEAF Foundation recognizes the critical role small-business owners play in our state’s economy,” said Golden LEAF Foundation President and Chief Executive Officer Scott T. Hamilton. “The ‘LEAF’ in Golden LEAF stands for Long-term Economic Advancement Foundation. Golden LEAF cannot let this devastating storm cause irreparable economic damage to our state’s small businesses.”
Small-business owners in disaster-declared counties can learn more about the WNC Strong: Helene Business Recovery Fund and apply for a loan at mountainbizworks.org/helene.
Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP) has been approved. People living in your affected counties impacted by Hurricane Helene can apply to receive a one-time benefit to help buy food through the D-SNAP. This program is NOT administered through FEMA. Survivors can pre-register online for assistance three days before the program starts by using the ePASS pre-registration tool at epass.nc.gov.