RALEIGH, N.C. -- There's no question it's been an extremely tough year for farmers and small businesses in our state.  From Hurricane Florence to Hurricane Matthew, they've been hit with one disaster after another and the NC Rural Center knows all too well the issues they now face. 

  • The Rural Center’s new subsidiary, Thread Capital, has launched several programs to help rural communities and businesses in the aftermath of hurricanes
  • This provides a temporary program to help small businesses in disaster-declared areas get short-term, interest-free loans that help bridge the gap between the storm and when they get their federal payouts
  • However, sign-up for the assembly ends on Thursday, November 1

The organization’s President and CEO, Patrick Woodie, sat down with Spectrum News anchor Caroline Blair to discuss how they’re helping in recovery efforts and future planning for disasters.

The Rural Center’s new subsidiary, Thread Capital, has launched several programs to help rural communities and businesses in the aftermath of hurricanes Matthew, Florence and Michael. Right after Matthew they launched the Hurricane Florence Rapid Recovery Loan. Woodie says this provides a temporary loan program to help small businesses in disaster-declared areas get short-term, interest-free loans that help bridge the gap between the storm and when they get their federal payouts. 

As of October 24, they had paid out 29 loans for just under $1 million to businesses reporting 599 jobs retained and $17.8 million in yearly wages. More applications are also pending.

The Rural Center and Thread Capital are also partnering with federal and stage agencies Woodie says, to launch a Hurricane Florence partnership to help streamline the process of getting small business owners connected to resources, important funding and all around help following the storm.

Finally, prior to this year’s 2018 Rural Assembly in Raleigh on November 15 and 16, state and community leaders are meeting to discuss recovery efforts and ways to prepare for future disasters. Woodie says the gathering titled, Community Allies for Disaster Recovery pre-conference, will take place on November 15 from 8:30 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. 

However, sign up for the assembly ends on Thursday, November 1. To learn more about the assembly and to sign up, visit their website.

Guest speakers at this year’s pre-conference include but are not limited to the following:

·         Bill Bynum, president and CEO of Hope Credit Union

·         Dan Gerlach, president of the Golden LEAF Foundation

·         Mike Sprayberry, director of NC Emergency Management

·         Dawn Baldwin Gibson, pastor and director of Genesis 457 (New Bern)

·         Juvencio Rocha-Peralta, executive director of AMEXCAN

·         Justin Smith, council member for City of Whiteville

Again, the 2018 Rural Assembly’s main goal is to continue the conversation about leadership in rural communities and the “critical role that innovation plays in the a community’s ability to successfully achieve their goals for the future.”

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