REBUILDING TOGETHER: A COMMUNITY UNITED
"SUPPORT FAMILIES & SMALL BUSINESSES RECOVERING FROM HURRICANE HELENE"
Ensure your year-end donation makes a real impact!
Donate Now thru
Jan 31, 2025
"Join our mission to change lives and uplift those impacted by Hurricane Helene! Together, we can create a lasting difference
Recovery Loans/Grants
Federal & State
Resource Guidance
Replace/Rebuild
Navigate Housing Challenges
Replace/Rebuild
Prevent Foreclosures
SUPPORT HOUSING RECOVERY
Together, we can Empower Families, Restore Livilihoods, and Build a Stronger, More Resilient Region
"Rebuilding Together: A Community United"
Post-Hurricane Helene
Closing the Year with Impact Campaign
The devastation caused by Hurricane Helene left countless families and small businesses in Western North Carolina grappling with loss and uncertainty. At Olive Hill Community Economic Development Corporation (CEDC), we’ve been on the front lines, supporting those hardest hit as they navigate the challenges of recovery. Through our "Building Resilient Economies Post-Hurricane Helene" initiative, we’re committed to providing long-term support to households and small businesses as they rebuild their lives.
This Giving Tuesday and year-end appeal, we invite you to stand with us and make a lasting difference in the lives of those affected by this unprecedented disaster.
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OHCEDC's Role in Hurricane Recovery
Since the storm, our efforts have focused on addressing the urgent and long-term needs of families and small businesses. Recovery is never immediate—it’s a journey requiring perseverance, coordination, and resources. Here’s how we’ve been making an impact:
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For Households: Rebuilding Lives
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Assisting Displaced Families: We’ve worked closely with households that lost their homes or experienced severe damage, providing critical guidance and resources.
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Lender Negotiations: Acting as advocates, we’ve connected families with their lenders to explore recovery options, ensuring they’re not overwhelmed by the process.
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Temporary Housing Support: For those waiting on FEMA evaluations or insurance claims, we’ve helped families find safe temporary accommodations.
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Navigating Bureaucracy: The recovery process is slowed by the complexities of working with FEMA, insurance companies, and other agencies. We’ve stood by families every step of the way.
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Future Assistance: Looking ahead, we’re preparing to help families access state assistance in 2025 and HUD’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) programs.
For Small Businesses: Restoring Livelihoods
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Direct Support: As part of the WNC Strong coalition, we’ve helped small businesses apply for grants of up to $25,000, covering immediate needs and setting the foundation for long-term recovery.
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Loan Application Assistance: We’ve guided business owners through the SBA loan process, a critical resource for rebuilding operations.
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A Success Story: One of our most notable successes so far is assisting a deconstruction and demolition business that lost essential tools and equipment. With our help, they replaced their tools, repaired their skid steer, and resumed operations, contributing to the massive tree and debris cleanup efforts after the storm.
For Workers: Supporting Stability
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Unemployment Benefits: Many people lost their jobs due to storm damage. We’ve helped displaced workers access unemployment benefits, providing them with financial stability during this difficult time.
The Long Road to Recovery
While progress has been made, the road to recovery remains long. The challenges of coordinating with FEMA, insurance companies, and other agencies mean that many families and businesses are still in limbo. State resources and federal funding through HUD are anticipated in 2025, underscoring the need for sustained support.
Your contributions will enable us to continue helping those in need today while laying the groundwork for long-term recovery.
How You Can Help
This year-end giving season, you can make a meaningful impact in the lives of those affected by Hurricane Helene. Here’s how:
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Donate: Your financial support directly funds housing assistance, small business recovery, and worker stability programs.
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Share Our Mission: Amplify our campaign by sharing on social media with hashtags like #BuildingResilientEconomies and #HurricaneRecovery.
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Volunteer: Join our efforts to provide hands-on support for recovery initiatives in Western North Carolina.
Looking Ahead: Building Resilient Economies
Recovery from Hurricane Helene is more than rebuilding homes and businesses—it’s about restoring hope and empowering communities to thrive again. The work of Olive Hill CEDC and our partners is making a real difference, but we can’t do it alone. Your support ensures we can continue to assist families and businesses in their time of greatest need.
Together, we can build resilient economies that sustain our communities for generations to come.
Thank you for being part of the solution.
Your generosity makes all the difference.