Meet Our Truist Foundation Western North Carolina Recovery and Resiliency Fund Grantee Partners

The Truist Foundation Western North Carolina Recovery and Resiliency Fund supports critical housing and small business recovery and long-term resiliency in communities devastated by Hurricane Helene in Western North Carolina.

Damage from Hurricane Helene in Western North Carolina. Photo courtesy of Truist Foundation

Invest Appalachia received $1 million for housing and small business recovery and support for community resilience hubs. Invest Appalachia will provide assistance and support for disaster recovery throughout Western North Carolina in response to Hurricane Helene.

Mountain BizCapital Inc. (aka Mountain BizWorks) received $1 million to support the long-term recovery and sustainability of small businesses in Western North Carolina. It will provide $750,000 in direct recovery grants and strengthen the region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem by offering continued technical assistance. It will help small businesses navigate the recovery process, ensuring they have the capital, resources and backing needed to rebuild and thrive. Focusing on immediate recovery and long-term resilience, this program aims to foster economic growth and stability across the region’s most impacted communities.

Mountain Housing Opportunities was awarded $1 million to focus on housing recovery efforts, especially for Hurricane Helene-impacted low-income individuals and households that own or rent homes in Buncombe County, North Carolina, and surrounding areas. Grant funding will assist Mountain Housing Opportunities with providing emergency repairs, tenant recovery navigation services, staff wellness initiatives, infrastructure repairs, and access to other available housing recovery programs and funding.

SeekHealing received $275,000 to support community-led emotional and practical support, mental health and social wellness training, and recovery navigation. The grant will allow SeekHealing to activate “community superheroes” to facilitate social health programs in Asheville and Waynesville, North Carolina, coordinate mutual aid matchmaking efforts, and provide accessible and regular mental health first aid to survivors in their communities, particularly those who cannot access traditional clinical mental health services.

New grantee partners will be posted as additional grant funds are awarded.