Affiliate Funds
Black Mountain - Swannanoa Valley Endowment Fund Cashiers Community Fund The Fund for Haywood County Highlands Community Fund The McDowell Endowment The Fund for Mitchell County Rutherford County Endowment Transylvania Endowment The Yancey Fund
Women for Women
Browse Affiliates Funds
Black Mountain - Swannanoa Valley Endowment Fund Cashiers Community Fund The Fund for Haywood County Highlands Community Fund The McDowell Endowment The Fund for Mitchell County Rutherford County Endowment Transylvania Endowment The Yancey Fund
mountain fog
WE RISE

By Supporting Workers, Volunteers and Small Businesses

Helene devastated small businesses, leaving many with extensive damage and severe, extended closures and losses. The impact to infrastructure and the economy has been staggering, with artists and creative businesses hit especially hard.

The grants supported:

  • Staffing Costs for Hurricane Response
  • Financial Assistance to Farmers/Craftspeople/First Responders FEMA-Ineligible/Hospitality Workers/Educators and School Staff
  • Small/Rural Business Support
  • Car Repair/Car Replacement/Transportation
  • Offset Costs for Volunteer Groups Assisting in Recovery

"Receiving a car from Working Wheels has truly changed my life. During the hurricane, my family lost everything - my car, all of my belongings, and even our home. This nonprofit provides more than just a car; it’s a bridge to better job opportunities, stability, and independence."

Working Wheels Client

What Your Support Made Possible

Economic Impact

According to FEMA, 40% of small businesses do not reopen after a disaster, and those already facing barriers are more vulnerable to permanent closure. CFWNC made grants to nonprofits providing financial assistance to hospitality workers, artists, teachers and school staff, rural businesses, first responders and volunteer groups assisting in recovery. 

The storm hit during peak tourism season, forcing extended closures and cancellations, and significantly reducing foot traffic and tourism-dependent sales. In addition to lost income, organizations and businesses faced rising operational costs from emergency staffing, marketing and equipment replacement, while redirecting resources to community needs. Recovery has been slow and uneven, with some still unable to reopen or resume full operations, and long-term financial impacts are expected well into 2026.

Mountain BizWorks Rural Rebuilding Together Grant Fund is addressing a critical need to build capacity within rural communities as they work toward long-term recovery.  Through the program, they engage with communities to build lasting capacity, ensuring they are well positioned to secure resources and support long-term recovery. The focus has been on revitalizing rural downtowns, where businesses have faced significant physical damage and are working to reopen or remain operational. Photo courtesy of BizWorks

Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project received $287,500 to support its Appalachian Farms Feeding Families and farm-to-restaurant connection programs, as well as other services focusing on Hurricane Helene recovery for small family farms in the region. Photo courtesy of ASAP, by Camilla Calnan

Working Wheels has provided repairs for 15 vehicles used in Helene relief and recovery efforts and have purchased 16 replacement cars and matched 13 of them with Helene survivors. More than 270 applications were submitted for replacement vehicles, with 55 identified as extremely high-priority cases due to the severity of their circumstances. The car replacement program has had a significant impact, and will continue to match clients with reliable, used vehicles. Photo courtesy of Working Wheels

The first phase of the Center for Craft's Futures Fund helped 400 artists meet immediate needs after the storm. The second phase is focused on longer-terms recovery for 40 individual craft artists through the WNC Craft Futures cohort. Woodworker Kwado Som-Pimpong, pictured, is a member of the cohort. Photo courtesy of the Center for Craft

The Carolina Conference of Seventh-day Adventists was awarded $185,000 to support volunteer management staff at the NC VOAD Multi-Agency Warehouse and offset costs for volunteer groups coming from outside the WNC Region. Photo courtesy of the MAW