State and Federal Financial Support for Clinicians and other PCC Members Affected by Hurricane Helene

Clinicians and other PCC members whose homes, practices and/or small businesses have been affected by Hurricane Helene may be eligible for Small Business Loans available through the United States Small Business Administration (SBA).

These include:

  • Home Disaster Loans: Loans to homeowners or renters to repair or replace disaster-damaged real estate and personal property, including automobiles.
  • Business Physical Disaster Loans: Loans to businesses to repair or replace disaster-damaged property owned by the business, including real estate, inventories, supplies, machinery, and equipment. Businesses of any size are eligible. Private, non-profit organizations such as charities, churches, private universities, etc., are also eligible.
  • Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL): Working capital loans to help small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture, and most private, non-profit organizations of all sizes meet their ordinary and necessary financial obligations that cannot be met as a direct result of the disaster. These loans are intended to assist through the disaster recovery period.

Information about these loans can be found at https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/disaster-assistance/hurricane-helene#id-areas-eligible-for-sba-disaster-loans 

In addition: 

  1. The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is offering Hardship Advances for Providers affected by Hurricane Helene. These provide immediate financial assistance, stabilization payments to support ongoing operations, and retainer payments to maintain staff and capacity. To learn more and access these funds, contact your Tailored Plan (LME-MCO) or Standard Plan. For updates and additional resources, visit the NC Medicaid Bulletins webpage and the DMH/DD/SUS Weathering the Storm webpage.  
  2. The Dogwood Health Trust Fund is investing in a $10 million lead grant to create the Western North Carolina Small Business Initiative (WNCSBI), which will be led by Appalachian Community Capital (ACC). The initiative will offer immediate relief grants up to $25,000 to very small businesses in Dogwood’s 18 counties that experienced physical damage from the storm and have less than $1 million in annual revenue. ACC has contracted with Community Reinvestment Fund (CRF) to administer the initiative. The criteria and application are available at https://dogwoodhealthtrust.org/dogwood-health-trust-announces-another-20-million-for-hurricane-helene-relief-andrecovery-in-western-north-carolina-bringing-total-to-more-than-50-million and the application window is open from Oct. 30 – Nov. 27, 2024

*We have been unable to identify similar programs to support clinicians in South Carolina but would appreciate receiving any information that could be shared with PCC members.