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Nearly a half-million dollars in flood recovery grants to small business owners have been issued by Region AHEAD to 28 companies in Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia.

“We want to get flood recovery cash to small businesses as quickly as possible while more applications and donations continue to pour in,” says Andy Dietrich, Region AHEAD chairman. “Yet we know that thus far we have had more than $1.8 million in grant application requests. Thus, we know more corporate and individual donations are needed.”

“Helped by the most recent donation of $50,000 from the East Tennessee Foundation we’ve received over $600,000 in donations thus far. Our goal is to reach at least $1 million in total donations,” says Lottie Ryans, Director of Workforce & Literacy Initiatives for the First Tennessee Development District (FTDD).

Applicants awarded grants will receive up to $25,000 in funds based on their requested needs and evaluation by an independent board that reviewed each application carefully. Companies included in the first round of grants include:

Blue Ridge Paddling of Erwin; Accurate Builders Construction & Design, Greeneville; Ananta 18 Inc., Elizabethton; Casa Nostra Italian Cuisine, Johnson City; Camp Stonefly of  Johnson City; A Step Away, Faust Enterprises; Experience Damascus, The Dancing Bear Inn, Damascus Dairy King, Dragonfly Inn, Damascus Brewery and Damascus Diner, all of Damascus, Va.; Doe Valley Printing and The Coffee Company of Elizabethton; Yogi Yogi of Jonesborough; Hunter Bleu, Red’s Tip Top Hair Shop, Music, Mountain and Nolichucky Hospitality and Uncle Johnny’s Hostel, Erwin; Fender’s Farm of Jonesborough; Glamping Retro, USA Raft, Clean Car Garage, Erwin; New Image Weight Loss and Sugar Hollow RV Park & Campground of Roan Mountain; Call A Cab, Marion, Va.; Customwortz of Chuckey; and Pedals on Rails, Elizabethton.

“Another round of grant application reviews are planned, and we hope to distribute more to needy small business owners soon,” explains Beth Rhinehart, President & CEO, Bristol TN/VA Chamber of Commerce. “Applications continue to be received from across the region.”

“Some of the applications are heartbreaking in their stories,” says Miles Burdine, President & CEO, Kingsport Chamber. “The stories make us committed to continuing our fundraising efforts to reach our $1 million goal.”

Counties where donations can support small businesses include Carter, Greene, Hancock, Hawkins, Johnson, Sullivan, Unicoi and Washington counties. In Southwest Virginia, counties include Buchanan, Dickenson, Lee, Russell, Scott, Smyth, Tazewell, Washington and Wise.

“We have notified our successful grant recipients and will be delivering checks to them soon along with our best wishes for their speedy recoveries,” explains Bob Cantler, President & CEO, Johnson City, Jonesborough, and Washington County Chamber of Commerce.

Small business owners who wish to apply for a Region AHEAD grant can simply go to RegionAhead.com and submit their grant application. Donors can likewise pick which county they wish to support with their donation or choose to donate to a general fund that benefits all counties based on need.

Original members of Region A.H.E.A.D. are part of the new flood recovery effort, including the Bristol Tennessee/Virginia Chamber of Commerce, Elizabethton/Carter County Chamber of Commerce, First Tennessee Development District, Greene County Partnership, Johnson City, Jonesborough Washington County Chamber of Commerce, Kingsport Chamber, Unicoi County Chamber of Commerce ARO Inc., Ballad Health and Creative Energy.

To make a corporate or individual donation, go to RegionAhead.com. Grant applications are available now at the same site, RegionAhead.com.