Lowe's Launches $2.5 Million Western North Carolina Small Business Recovery Fund

Core Points - Lowe's is launching a $2 million recovery fund to support small businesses in Western North Carolina affected by Hurricane Helene, providing 100 grants of $20,000 each [1][6] - The fund will be managed by the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), and grant applications will open on November 18 [2][6] - Lowe's commitment to the community includes hosting local events during Thanksgiving to assist impacted restaurants and artisans [3] Group 1 - The recovery fund aims to address urgent needs such as payroll, rent, and equipment replacement for small businesses [1] - Lowe's will distribute 3,000 family-style Thanksgiving meals from local caterers to support over 12,000 people in affected communities [4] - On Small Business Saturday, Lowe's will host a Holiday Pop-Up event for local artisans, providing $1,000 grants to help replenish their supplies [5] Group 2 - The initiatives are part of Lowe's broader $12 million pledge for relief and recovery efforts following the hurricanes [6] - Donations have also been made to support first responders and local nonprofits, including a $750,000 grant for veterans housing [6] - Lowe's operates over 1,700 home improvement stores and serves approximately 16 million customer transactions weekly, with total sales exceeding $86 billion in fiscal year 2023 [8]