Johnson City, TN — June 3, 2025 — United Way of East TN Highlands and FoundersForge are proud to announce a new partnership to support small businesses impacted by the catastrophic flooding caused by Hurricane Helene. United Way’s Board of Directors has approved a funding request from FoundersForge through the Disaster Relief Fund to deploy the Avante Small Business Relaunch Program across the region.
Through this partnership, FoundersForge will host several 6-week programs of the Avante Bootcamp in collaboration with local chambers of commerce and regional banks to directly support affected businesses in Carter, Cocke, Greene, Johnson, Unicoi, and Washington counties.
The Avante curriculum, developed by FoundersForge, is a proven program designed to equip both new and existing businesses with the tools and strategies they need to launch, grow, and thrive. Through this disaster recovery initiative, the focus will be on existing businesses that need help relaunching and rebuilding in the wake of the flooding.
According to the Small Business Administration, over 300 small businesses in northeast Tennessee applied for assistance and almost 100 have received support, totaling over 5 million dollars in loans to help these businesses recover.
“This partnership reflects our commitment to long-term recovery and economic resilience,” said Leslie Dalton, President, United Way of East TN Highlands. “Small businesses are the heartbeat of our communities, and this program will provide them with the support they need not only to recover but to come back stronger.”
FoundersForge Executive Director David Nelson added, “Our Avante Bootcamp provides businesses with the tools they need to launch and grow successfully. With the support of United Way and our local partners, we can ensure that the businesses affected by Hurricane Helene have a pathway to recover, rebuild, and continue serving their communities.”
The Avante Small Business Relaunch Program will roll out in the coming months with a series of bootcamps designed to provide hands-on business planning, marketing, financial management, and access to local support networks.
This collaboration is part of the broader long-term recovery efforts in East Tennessee and underscores the importance of partnership in building a stronger, more resilient economy.
For more information on the Avante Small Business Relaunch Program, contact us.