Success Story - Botanical Treasures

After Hurricane Helene devastated Botanical Treasures in September 2024, business owner Robert Stine faced nearly $2 million in losses and feared that decades of work had been swept away overnight. “Everywhere I looked, there was destruction,” Robert recalled. Unsure where to begin, he turned to the Small Business Center (SBC) at Blue Ridge Community College for guidance and support. The Center connected him with disaster counseling, resources for insurance claims, and help applying for grants that provided immediate financial relief. With the SBC’s assistance, Robert secured over $30,000 in funding from sources like the Western North Carolina Small Business Initiative Grant and the LoveHendo Business Recovery Fund.

This support gave Robert the foundation to begin rebuilding his nursery. Volunteers, loyal customers, and SBC staff stood alongside him as he restored property and replenished inventory. Reflecting on the hard winter after the storm, Robert shared, “At the end of the fall, you’re going into the dead of winter, struggling to make things work – but then you’re seeing things blossom, bloom, come back to life. It’s encouraging.” Today, Botanical Treasures is open once again, with hoop houses full of healthy perennials and a renewed determination. “And my next thing is, I’m going to prove how well we can do,” Robert said, looking ahead with resolve to mark progress by the storm’s one-year anniversary.

Through personalized counseling, grant support, and steady encouragement, the SBC helped transform Robert’s sense of hopelessness into a path toward renewal. Botanical Treasures’ story shows how critical the Center has been for Western North Carolina businesses recovering from Helene, providing not only resources but also a reminder that small business owners are not alone in their struggles.