We know that in the wake of Hurricane Helene, many communities across Western North Carolina, the Upstate of South Carolina, Southwest Virginia and Tennessee continue to face prolonged economic challenges. The storm’s devastation not only damaged infrastructure but also disrupted the vital tourism that supports so many small businesses, service providers and local economies.

Like with most natural disasters, there was an influx of assistance in the immediate aftermath of the storm. But as time passes, attention fades and news media move on to the next story. Meanwhile, these communities continue to deal with devastation and the monumental task of rebuilding — not just homes, but businesses and livelihoods. We recognize that many of these communities rely heavily on tourism and the revenue generated by visitors traveling to the region.

With that in mind, in December 2024, we announced a creative grant opportunity designed specifically for communities directly impacted by Hurricane Helene. Today, we’re thrilled to announce the recipients of the Rising Horizons Creative Tourism Campaign Grant!

Due to the incredible quality of the applications we received, we couldn’t award just one! We are thrilled to share that we’ve expanded the program to award three grants to three deserving communities, totaling $40,000 — doubling our initial grant and hopefully more than doubling the impact to these communities!

Grant Recipients

$20,000 Grant – Mitchell County, NC
$12,500 Grant – Abingdon and Damascus, VA
$7,500 Grant – City of Marion, NC

These grants will provide comprehensive creative services to help revitalize local economies and attract visitors back to the area. The services we’ll be providing include Brand Management Messaging & Implementation, PR Strategy, PR Campaign, Crisis Communications Planning, Website Design & Development, Digital Marketing, Social Media Influencer Marketing and Strategic Planning & Implementation.

Why We’re Doing This

Tourism is the heartbeat of many communities in this region. From the picturesque mountain towns to the vibrant main streets of downtown, every visitor brings vital revenue that supports local businesses and the livelihoods of countless residents. Hurricane Helene disrupted this lifeline, but we believe that with the right creative push, these communities can recover and thrive once again.

This grant is our way of helping these communities rebuild, rebrand and reenergize their tourism efforts. We’re thrilled to be working with the grant recipients and can’t wait to help them achieve their goals.

What’s Next

We’re excited to see these grant recipients put their campaigns into action and make a lasting impact on their communities. Thank you to everyone who applied, and we look forward to continuing to support the economic recovery of the communities affected by Hurricane Helene.