Low-interest federal loans being offered for Chantal relief

CHAPEL HILL. N.C. (WTVD) — As you walk around Eastgate Crossing, the signs of devastation are everywhere. Now, weeks later businesses there are still navigating a complicated maze of funding and rebuilding as they try to figure out whether they can stay afloat.

At Clean Juice, all owner Beth Ellis could do was watch from her security camera as her labor of love washed away.

“We had about three and three feet of water, three to four feet of water in here,” she said.

The weeks after have been full of cleaning up damage, paying their workers temporarily, and now figuring out what’s covered.

“We’re not sure exactly how we’re going to be able to rebuild, our part at this point, Ellis said.

Their landlord will cover the central wall, but their flood insurance lapsed, and everything else is on them to cover.

“We have two kids in college and another a few years out so we don’t need to bring on more debt if we possibly can, so we’re going to see what we can do here,” she said.

Part of the issue is that unlike Hurricane Helene, which brought widespread damage to western North Carolina, Tropical Storm Chantal spared most of Chapel Hill. It’s frustrating for those who are having to deal with the concentrated damage.

“When you lose an interstate or a water sewer system that affects tens of thousands of people who may not have gotten any other damage, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera, Chantal, if one got affected by Chantal it’s just as devastating for them. But obviously it wasn’t as pervasive or widespread in our communities,’ says Joel Harper with the Small Business Technology Development Center

The U.S. Small Business Administration is offering low-interest loans to affected people, and not just for businesses. Homeowners and renters are eligible, too.

“Maybe somebody wants to leave the area that’s in the flood zone. Maybe they want to build their home and repurposed for like a flood zone area. Like if they have a lower driveway, some people will come in and build in on that and make sure that they have the proper flooding zone,” said Janell Dixon with the SBA.

A resource center has been set up at the Drakeford Library in Carrboro, and the SBA plans to add another location in Durham.