Old North News

The North Carolina Department of Commerce has announced the availability of grants aimed at assisting businesses affected by Hurricane Helene. Secretary Lee Lilley confirmed the initiative, highlighting the goal to help mitigate layoffs in the most impacted Western North Carolina counties.

The Hurricane Helene Business Edge Fund offers $500,000 for local workforce boards, aiming to support job retention and business continuity in the affected areas. In Lilley’s words, "This innovative grant program is one of numerous tools we are using to support long-term economic recovery for western North Carolina. It is essential that we help employers, particularly small businesses, to save jobs, adapt and rebuild."

The fund is administered via the Governor’s Rapid Response program under the North Carolina Department of Commerce's Division of Workforce Solutions (DWS). Through Business Edge, a part of the Rapid Response initiative, efforts are directed at engaging employers to lessen layoffs and promote continuity through all business life cycle stages.

Eligible workforce development boards can apply for these funds, which may be allocated as grants up to $10,000 for qualifying businesses and community organizations. The selected counties include Ashe, Avery, Burke, Buncombe, Caldwell, Haywood, Henderson, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Transylvania, Watauga, and Yancey.

Businesses that wish to apply must meet certain criteria: they must have been operational for at least two years, must be current on Unemployment Insurance (UI) taxes, and maintain good standing with the IRS. Additionally, the application has to detail the need for layoff aversion support and practical applications for the funds. Local boards may impose extra requirements.

The grants can be used for a variety of purposes like Incumbent Worker Training, the installation of remote access tools, or transitioning to online sales—efforts aimed at preventing layoffs. However, they cannot be directed towards products or services covered by insurance, hazard pay, rent, employee wages and benefits, certain employee support services, or enhancements that turn into capital assets.

Interested businesses should reach out to their local workforce development boards or NCWorks Career Center for applications. Contact information for these boards can be found at www.ncawdb.org/local-boards/.

The project is a WIOA Rapid Response initiative, fully funded by the Employment and Training Administration of the U.S. Department of Labor, forming part of a $5,261,492 award to North Carolina.