The Builders Association of the Blue Ridge Mountains (BABRM) has awarded two $25,000 disaster-relief grants to help local businesses rebuild after Hurricane Helene. The funding was made possible through the Home Building Industry Disaster Relief Fund, a national program managed by the National Association of Home Builders that provides direct financial assistance to members and local associations impacted by natural disasters.

“With these funds, we were able to support two of our most deeply impacted members in a time of need,” says Megan Carroll, Executive Officer of BABRM. “Disaster recovery for us ties directly to our mission as an association.”

Soon after the storm, BABRM staff personally called all 1,200 members to understand the extent of the damage across Western North Carolina. That outreach identified two long-standing member companies—WSM Craft and Arbor Zen Hardwood Floors—that had sustained major losses.

In Asheville, heirloom home designer WSM Craft was among the many small businesses forced to pause operations after the flooding. Founder Smith McAulay recalls how quickly life and work came to a standstill. “The storm brought two feet of the Swannanoa River into my living room and effectively put a hard stop on any future horizon we have,” McAulay says.

The disaster-relief grant is helping the company stabilize and plan for a 2026 relaunch.
 

In Black Mountain, Arbor Zen Hardwood Floors, led by owner Grayson Deal, faced major flooding that left its warehouse underwater and displaced several team members from their homes. Despite the damage, Deal immediately joined BABRM’s Disaster Recovery Task Force, partnering with builders, tradespeople, and volunteers to assist with cleanup and deliver resources to families in need.

“Since the storm, the recovery process has been one of grit and grace,” Deal says. “We patched the roof in our warehouse and cleaned the mud, but most importantly, we had to take care of one another and make sure that our people—which is our strongest asset—were okay.”

According to Deal, the $25,000 grant will help Arbor Zen regain its footing after months of disruption.

“Being a member of the Builders Association is a great reminder that we’re not alone,” he says. “We have a community of professionals we can lean on, we can help, and we can ask for help when needed.”