On October 25th, 2024, Hatch, Venture Asheville, and AVL Digital Nomads hosted a heartfelt gathering focused on the recovery efforts for local businesses affected by Hurricane Helene. Over pizza and beer, local business owners shared their experiences and needs in an open forum.

As the community reflects on the event, several key themes emerged that highlight the path forward for our community. Here are the findings from the discussions:

1. Financial Planning and Projections: There’s a pressing need for financial planning assistance, including non-loan funding options and realistic revenue projections tailored for small businesses.
2. Local Collaboration: We encourage local businesses to consider contributing a percentage of their profits to recovery efforts. This strategy supports those in need and fosters local job opportunities and infrastructure investment.
3. Promoting Local Goods and Services: We discussed strategies to boost sales by creating connections between wholesalers and retailers, particularly within local industries like brewing.
4. Tourism Recovery: Participants shared innovative ideas for attracting tourists during off-seasons, aiming to enhance revenue streams while showcasing the unique charm of WNC.
5. Staffing Solutions: The need for solutions to retain local talent was highlighted, along with initiatives to connect unemployed individuals to job opportunities and offer leadership support during the recovery phase.
6. Infrastructure and Housing: Questions arose regarding timelines for restoring critical infrastructure and the need to address the shortage of affordable housing for employees.
7. Resource Aggregation: There is a clear demand for a centralized source of information on recovery resources, such as FEMA and SBA assistance, to empower business leaders in navigating their options.
8. Emotional and Community Support: The importance of emotional support and stress reduction was underscored, recognizing the challenges faced by individuals in our community.
9. Education and Awareness: A collective call for better education on economic realities emerged, with guidance needed for businesses to adapt to the post-disaster landscape.
10. Creative Funding Initiatives: Suggestions were made for innovative grant funding initiatives aimed at supporting local artists and community engagement events.

Next Steps: Community Initiatives

As we moved forward from our discussions, we broke into groups and brainstormed actionable steps for our community. Here’s what we came up with as potential initiatives:

• Locals Helping Locals: Create an inventory of businesses that are thriving and explore opportunities to redirect expenses locally. Develop collaborations among local businesses, particularly those in tourism, to create packages that benefit both locals and visitors.
• Financial Planning Support: Focus on providing assistance with cash flow projections and financial education to help business owners separate personal and business finances.
• Outside Promotion: Compile a list of businesses outside our area for outreach, and utilize social media and storytelling to engage with broader networks, emphasizing our resilience.
• Bringing the Magic Back: Foster community engagement to keep attention on rebuilding efforts and promote local initiatives through platforms like “Go Local.”
• Advocacy for Business Funding: Mobilize business owners to advocate for state-funded grants and explore available local funding opportunities.
• Building Foundational Support: Discuss essential factors for rebuilding and establish connections with successful models from other regions, such as New Orleans.
• Strategic Messaging: Craft clear messages that resonate with both local stakeholders and government officials to drive our agenda.
• Establishing a Local Leader: Identify a group or convener to lead these initiatives and maintain momentum in our recovery efforts.
• Resource Guides: Enhance existing resource guides to facilitate collaboration and support within our community.

In this moment of rebuilding, Hatch invites every member of the community to participate in these initiatives. They encourage you to join us in these efforts by attending upcoming community meetings or sharing your ideas. Whether you own a business, work for one, or simply care about the future of Asheville, your involvement is vital. By pooling our resources, skills, and networks, we can amplify our efforts and create a stronger, more connected community.

If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to at [email protected].

If you’re feeling overwhelmed about how to help, we encourage you to consider donating to our partner, Mountain BizWorks, and their grant relief fund, Donate to WNC Strong: Helene Business Recovery. Their goal is to raise $50 million for direct grants to small businesses across the region. These grants will serve as a critical lifeline for those hardest hit, providing hope during these incredibly challenging times.