As a lead statewide resource in the North Carolina Disaster Recovery Framework (Section A-6-1 Business and Workforce Development), the SBTDC helps North Carolina businesses plan for and recover from natural disasters. This includes coordination among federal, state and local partners, and providing businesses with counseling services. In addition, the SBTDC helps administer state-based disaster loan programs approved by the Governor, and coordinates outreach with statewide partners. Other efforts include:

• Helping businesses assess the financial impact of a disaster and apply for U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and State of North Carolina disaster loans. 
• Working with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to identify qualified North Carolina businesses to contract for products and services.
• To help provide critical gap funding following Hurricane Helene, the SBTDC is facilitating a rapid response loan program until federal disaster loans are available to small businesses.
• The SBTDC has established SBA Business Recovery Centers in western North Carolina, including utilization of the SBTDC’s regional centers located in downtown Asheville and another in Hickory.

About the SBTDC

• North Carolina’s SBTDC has served the state’s small- and mid-sized businesses since 1984. As the business and technology extension service of the UNC System, the SBTDC is administratively housed at NC State, and operates 10 regional centers and 16 offices throughout North Carolina’s 100 counties hosted by constituent campuses.
• The SBTDC maintains a formal partnership with the U.S. SBA, making it a unique asset in the economic development infrastructure of North Carolina. Over the last decade, the SBTDC provided service to 39,476 small- and mid-sized businesses, including 525,525 hours of no-cost advisory services — resulting in 27,292 jobs created, $1.12 billion capital formation and 1,393 new businesses started across North Carolina.