Latest news with #HurricaneHeleneBusinessEdgeFund
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Western NC workforce boards offered $500,000 to assist with Helene recovery
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — The North Carolina Department of Commerce is providing funds for workforce boards in western North Carolina counties impacted by Hurricane Helene, state officials said Wednesday. According to the Department of Commerce, the Hurricane Helene Business Edge Fund offers $500,000 to the western North Carolina workforce boards in an effort to help communities retain jobs and businesses. Workforce development boards in impacted counties may apply to the Division of Workforce Solutions for funding and provide grants of up to $10,000 each to eligible businesses and community-based organizations. Employers in the impacted counties will be eligible to apply to their local workforce board, according to the Department of Commerce. State officials said the counties eligible for the funds include Ashe, Avery, Burke, Buncombe, Caldwell, Haywood, Henderson, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Transylvania, Watauga, and Yancey. To apply, state officials said businesses must have been in operation for at least two years, be current on Unemployment Insurance taxes, and be in good standing with the Internal Revenue Service. The application should demonstrate a need for layoff aversion support and outline reasonable uses for the funds. Local workforce development boards may add their own application requirements. The Hurricane Helene Business Edge Fund may not be used for products or services covered by insurance, hazard pay, rent, employee wages and benefits, certain support services for employees, and improvements, upgrades, or equipment that contribute to the capital assets of a business, according to the Department of Commerce. Businesses are asked to contact their local workforce development board or NCWorks Career Center to apply for the Hurricane Helene Business Edge Fund. Contact information can be found on the North Carolina Association of Workforce Development Boards website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
N.C. Commerce Secretary Lilley announces grants to support businesses impacted by Hurricane Helene
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCT) — On Wednesday, April 2, 2025, N.C. Commerce Secretary Lee Lilley announced that the North Carolina Department of Commerce will be providing funds to minimize the damage of layoffs caused by Hurricane Helene. The Hurricane Helene Business Edge Fund will offer $500,000 in grant funding for local workforce boards serving the Western North Carolina counties that were most impacted by the storm, which will help communities retain jobs and businesses. 'This innovative grant program is one of numerous tools we are using to support long-term economic recovery for western North Carolina,' N.C. Commerce Secretary Lilley said. 'It is essential that we help employers, particularly small businesses, to save jobs, adapt and rebuild.' The Hurricane Helene Business Edge Fund is managed through the Governor's Rapid Response program at the North Carolina Department of Commerce's Division of Workforce Solutions (DWS). Business Edge hopes to engage with employers to lessen layoffs to help them through each stage of the business life cycle. Once workforce development boards in the region apply to DWS for funding, they may provide grants of up to $10,000 each to eligible businesses and community-based organizations. There are certain counties that will be eligible to apply for their local workforce board, which are Ashe, Avery, Burke, Buncombe, Caldwell, Haywood, Henderson, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Transylvania, Watauga, and Yancey. Businesses must have been in operation for at least two years, be current on Unemployment Insurance (UI) taxes, and be in good standing with the Internal Revenue Service to apply. The application should voice a need for layoff aversion support and outline reasonable uses for the funds. Local workforce development boards may add their own application requirements. Business cannot use the Business Edge Fund for products or services covered by insurance, hazard pay, rent, employee wages and benefits, certain support services for employees, and improvements, upgrades, or equipment that contribute to the capital assets of the business. To apply for the Hurricane Helene Business Edge Fund, businesses should contact their local workforce development board or NC Works Career Center. Contact information for local workforce boards is available at Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
