First Tennessee Development hosts Economic Recovery Workshop

What natural disasters reveal about the resilience of rural small businesses

Natural disasters—from tornadoes across the South and Midwest, to the fires in Los Angeles to Hurricane Helene’s devastation in North Carolina—have upended communities, with small businesses among the hardest hit. As extreme weather events become more frequent, these businesses have emerged as vital anchors of community recovery. While urban enterprises navigate complex rebuilding amid dense infrastructure, rural businesses face distinct challen…

Watauga EDC opens business snapshot survey

In a continued effort to track real-time conditions for local businesses as recovery from the impacts of Hurricane Helene continue, the Watauga County Economic Development Commission has opened its reporting window for its April 2025 Business Snapshot Report.

114 year old McDowell County mountain church to rebuild from Hurricane Helene

“(God) left us standing for a reason, for what reason we don’t quite know,” said member Cameron Freeman.

First Tennessee Development hosts Economic Recovery Workshop

Leaders from across Northeast Tennessee gathered at Grace Meadows Farm for an Economic Recovery Workshop hosted by the First Tennessee Development District to coordinate post-Hurricane Helene recovery efforts. The event emphasized regional collaboration, resource sharing and long-term resilience across public,…

BOONE AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FOUNDATION DISTRIBUTES AN ADDITIONAL $520,000 IN THIRD ROUND OF BUSINESS RESILIENCY DISASTER GRANTS

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 …

E-T communities awarded $2 million for Helene costs - Elizabethton Star

The state of Tennessee and FEMA have awarded nearly $2 million for emergency and permanent work to repair bridges, restore utilities, remove debris and take measures to protect 14 East Tennessee counties affected by Tropical Storm Helene. The major presidential declaration designated Carter, Claiborne, Cocke, Grainger, Greene, Hamblen, Hancock, Hawkins, Jefferson, Johnson, Sevier, Sullivan, Unicoi and Washington counties for FEMA Public Assistan…