Helene’s impact on small businesses in western North Carolina is at least two-fold, not only shutting down businesses for a while but also the impact on employees. North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper got a first-hand look at how businesses are bouncing back, saying small businesses are pivotal to the state. “It’s certainly the backbone of the western North Carolina economy,” Cooper said. Helene arrived as an uninvited patron to the Pisgah Fish Camp Restaurant in Pisgah Forest, flooding it out, and closing it down for now. “We’re going to be down for a little while, but we’ve not lost everything,” said owner Mike Hawkins. Hawkins says he is aware of financial assistance. “There’s low-interest loans right now for businesses that they can access,” Hawkins said. “There are SBA loans, we know that. But, I think that this is such an unprecedented crisis that we need to do more than that,” Cooper said. “I want to work in a bipartisan way with the state legislature, with Congress to try to come up with some kind of grant program for our small businesses.” Hawkins understands the concept. “On a statewide basis, can we set up something similar to what happened during the pandemic with PPP loans that then might be forgiven under certain performance standards?” Hawkins said. He is also concerned about his staff currently out of work. “There’s unemployment. There’s also disaster unemployment to cover that. But it’s still a real disruption,” said Hawkins. The governor also toured Pisgah Labs a few miles away. The French Broad River overflowing from across a field and getting three feet deep inside the facility. What could be salvaged, drying out in the sun. Site manager Dani Bailey welcomes the financial aid ideas from the governor. “When you’re looking at this much loss, anything is a help,” Bailey said. Hawkins is also committed to getting his family-tradition restaurant back on the menu.