FB Financial, a division of FirstBank Nashville, Tennessee, announced the launch of “Blue Ridge Rising,” a loan recovery program, to support Western North Carolina businesses impacted by last year’s Hurricane Helene. Focused on stabilizing and rebuilding owner-occupied commercial real estate, the $75 million capital commitment is FB Financial’s way of helping to build back Asheville one business at a time and coincides with the company’s one-year anniversary, having established service in Asheville a week before the Hurricane Helene disaster.

Blue Ridge Rising is the first initiative of its kind focused on revitalizing Asheville’s business community and giving local business owners much-needed access to capital. This program provides flexible, accessible financing to support new construction, property acquisition, and refinancing for affected businesses.

“As a community bank, FB Financial is deeply committed to helping local businesses succeed and we are invested in rebuilding Asheville, one business at a time,” said Andy Nadeau, Asheville Market President. “Our team has been working hand-in-hand with business owners in the devastating aftermath of Hurricane Helene. As we look back on this past year and all it has entailed, Blue Ridge Rising is a direct way for us to continue supporting businesses and remind them that we’re still all in this together.”

Nadeau leads the program with the support from his local team, which includes Jennifer Arnold, VP Commercial Relationship Manager, and Bryan Boone, Senior Commercial Relationship Manager. Together, they are sharing the program through direct outreach, community engagement, and partnerships with local chambers of commerce and economic development agencies to identify eligible participants and streamline the application process.

The program offers low interest rates, higher loan-to-value, longer amortization, no origination fees for owner-occupied commercial real estate.

“FB Financial’s Blue Ridge Rising program is the epitome of our community banking model in action, empowering local decision makers to be responsive to the unique needs of the communities we serve,” said Chris Holmes, FB Financial President and CEO. “In Asheville, Andy and the local team identified a real need within the business community and created a custom solution to help build back stronger.  Local business leaders are already responding to the program, and it reinforces our belief in the power of locally driven initiatives.”

 FB Financial’s launch in Asheville last year coincided with Hurricane Helene’s impact on the city, and from day one, the team has taken pride in being “a bank built for Asheville.” Local businesses that have experienced significant damage to owner-occupied commercial property due to Hurricane Helene may qualify for the exclusive Blue Ridge Recovery Loan Promotion. To learn more, visit FBFinancialOnline.com or call the Asheville team directly on 828-378-1635.