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Just 17 days after Region AHEAD reorganized to support the recovery of small businesses affected by a flood, donations have hit $500,000 from individual and corporate donors. Meanwhile, more flood recovery grant applications by small business owners continue to grow.

“We are so grateful for those who have seen the need and responded quickly to help our region’s small businesses begin their path toward recovery,” says Andy Dietrich, Region AHEAD chairman. “The $500,000 amount enables us to nearly double the number of small businesses we can support compared to the $253,000 we raised during COVID. We want to reach $1 million in donations to truly cover the need created by a 500-year flood in our region.”

“We appreciate all donations ranging from $20 or less up to $150,000 to push us to the $500,000 mark,” says Beth Rhinehart, President and CEO of the Bristol Tennessee and Virginia Chamber of Commerce. “All of our donors have seen the need to get money to small businesses as quickly as possible. We will continue our push to reach our $1 million goal.”

Entities who have donated $10,000 to $150,000 to the fund include: Ballad Health, Bank of Tennessee, BlueCross Blue Shield of TN Foundation, BrightRidge, Champion Chevrolet. Cline Holder Crown Laboratories, Domtar, Eastman Credit Union, ETSU, and Regions Bank Foundation.

“Grant applicants are telling heartbreaking stories about how their businesses have been severely affected by the flood,” says Lottie Ryans, Director of Workforce & Literacy Initiatives for the First Tennessee Development District (FTDD). “We’ve so far received applications from Southwest Virginia counties as well as Northeast Tennessee. Many businesses are involved in the tourism trade, but we have also received applications from retailers and construction companies. We expect to begin providing funds to successful applicants by the end of October.”

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 and Washington and Wise.

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.