LAST UPDATED: April 3, 2025
Several counties in Eastern Kentucky were devastated by flood waters again this February 2025. We hope the following list of resources is helpful to our small businesses and organizations as they continue to recover. We will be updating this list with new resources as they come in. That being said, there are many more resources out there we can connect you to. If you are struggling with a particular issue, please contact our Disaster Recovery Coordinator, Jessica Epperson at jessica@mtassociation.org for assistance.
Note: this webpage is catered to assistance available for small businesses and organizations. For individuals needing assistance, check here. If you would like to donate, please consider the Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky’s Crisis Aid fund here. For volunteering opportunities, check here.
Grants/Assistance:
Businesses (in certain counties):
Invest 606 Grant: Small businesses, farms, and social enterprises that have been impacted by the February 2025 flood are eligible to apply. Open until March 23, 2025. https://www.appalachianky.org/flood/
Southeast Kentucky Chamber of Commerce’s Back to Business Fund $500-$1,500 grants are open to businesses in Floyd, Johnson, Knott, Lawrence, Letcher, Magoffin, Martin, and Pike. Details here.
Big Sandy Area Development District is helping business owners in Johnson, Floyd, Magoffin, Martin, and Pike counties navigate disaster recovery, including eligibility for FEMA Individual Assistance, SBA disaster loans, and other financial aid. The program also provides hands-on support with applications, documentation, and long-term recovery planning. Details here.
Restaurants & their employees:
Southern Smoke Foundation funds people in the food & beverage industry in crisis, including those facing a natural disaster. This is for restaurant & bar workers, baristas, farmers, ranchers, winemakers, distillers, brewers, etc. Details on aid.
Artists:
CERF+ is a nonprofit offering $3,000 in emergency relief grants for artists that experienced an emergency or disaster. Apply here.
Loans:
Mountain Association
The Mountain Association’s Recovery Loans can be a great option for your business or nonprofit, especially as we have limited funding available to make the principal repayments for you for 6-12 months. 0% interest for the first 12 months and then 3.75% if directly impacted; 0% the first six months and then 3.75% if indirectly impacted. Indirect impacts means that business operations or sales were harmed or reduced due to disaster impacts on the community. For example, if the water was off and a restaurant had to close as a result; if the business owner sustained damage of their residence that reduced time available for business activities; if sales were down due to disaster-related impacts at the community level, etc.
We’re also happy to talk to you about other financial solutions to meet your recovery needs. Fill out the short application or call us if you’d like to talk. https://mtassociation.org/recovery-loan/
Small Business Administration
The Small Business Administration (SBA) is offering low interest loans for those impacted by flooding. Interest rates are as low as 4% for small businesses, 3.625% for nonprofits, and 2.563% for homeowners and renters, with terms up to 30 years. Interest does not begin to accrue, and payments are not due, until 12 months from the date of the first loan disbursement. Please find details here.
Buy-Out Programs
A new FEMA Buyout Program has opened up for any property owner (residential or business) to sign up based on continued flooding or storm damage to your property. This program means you can voluntarily sell the property and land for a fair market value with the idea you relocate to a non-flood prone zone. Sign up at the Disaster Recovery Center between 7am -7pm, Monday through Saturday, at the Hazard Community & Technical College (first parking lot on your left).
Sales Tax Refunds for Building Repairs
The Kentucky Department of Revenue’s Division of Sales and Use Tax has a program that allows those who were affected to apply for a refund of sales tax on building materials to repair or replace their home or business damaged in the disaster. It also covers the sales tax on a mobile home purchase. KRS 139.519 allows the affected homeowner/business owner to apply for a refund of up to $6,000 per building affected. This refund program covers both the 2022 floods and the 2025 floods. Details here.
Rebuilding with cost savings in mind:
Our team of energy experts put together this fact sheet on things you should consider if you are having to gut your building or replace equipment. Considering these tips can help you save on your energy bills when you get your doors back open: https://mtassociation.org/energy/rebuilding-with-cost-savings-in-mind/
If you’d like us to visit your building to make recommendations, fill out our short application or give us a call: https://mtassociation.org/energy/
Free Legal Support:
Appalred
AppalRed provides free support for individuals on several items related to recovery, including FEMA appeals, unemployment insurance, contractor fraud, SNAPP and other benefits programs, etc. More here.
Preparing Your Small Business for Death & Disaster Workshop:
NEW DATES: We have postponed our workshop series focused on preparing your business for the unexpected until June to give people more time to recover from this disaster and be ready to prepare for the next. In the first half of this workshop, an attorney from AppalRed will cover critical topics such as planning for the death of a business owner, legal considerations, buy/sell arrangements, key person insurance, and estate planning. In the next half, the Mountain Association will explain how to safeguard your business in the face of natural disasters. Participants can sign up for free one-on-one consulting with an attorney after the training to cover remaining questions. Register here.
Our hearts are with our mountain communities.
– Mountain Association staff
