The Mitchell County Development Foundation has opened the second round of its Small Business Resiliency Grant Program, which provides financial support to businesses in Mitchell County, North Carolina, that sustained significant damage due to Hurricane Helene. This grant program is intended to aid in the recovery and reopening of businesses physically located in the county, promoting local economic resilience.

To be eligible, applicants must operate a brick-and-mortar business within Mitchell County that incurred substantial property, equipment, or structural damage from the hurricane. The business must have been operational in the county at the time of Hurricane Helene and for at least one year prior to September 27, 2024. Qualifying entities include sole proprietors, partnerships, corporations (S or C), and LLCs. Nonprofits are not eligible for funding.

Applicants must demonstrate financial hardship not covered by insurance or other recovery sources, present a plan to repair damage with the intention to reopen in Mitchell County, and submit all required documentation. Required documents include a brief budget with a project timeline, a completed and signed 2023 tax return, and a signed IRS Form W-9. Businesses that received funding or applied in the first round are also eligible to apply in this round, provided they show ongoing need.

The second grant cycle opened on March 25, 2025, and applications must be submitted by 11:59 PM ET on April 15, 2025. Grants range from $1,000 to $25,000 depending on the applicant's demonstrated need. Grant decisions will be based on alignment with eligibility criteria and responses to application questions. Future application opportunities may open depending on the availability of additional funding.

All applications must be submitted online using the designated application form. For questions regarding the application process, applicants may contact the Foundation at contact@mitchellcdf.org. The Foundation's decisions regarding grant awards are final and not subject to appeal or legal challenge.

The Mitchell County Development Foundation is headquartered in Spruce Pine, NC, and can be reached by phone at 828-467-7253.