BrightRidge Donates $150,000 to Support Small Business Flood Recovery Through Region AHEAD

JOHNSON CITY – In response to the flooding severely impacting Northeast Tennessee and the region, BrightRidge is donating $150,000 to support small businesses through Region AHEAD, a non-profit fundraising organization dedicated to assisting small businesses in times of crisis.

Region AHEAD, influential in providing direct assistance to small business during the Covid pandemic, is actively coordinating direct monetary donations to help small businesses recover from the effects of flooding. The organization disburses 100% of its donations directly to businesses in need across eight counties in Northeast Tennessee and eight counties in Southwest Virginia. Donors can choose to direct their contributions to a specific county if they wish.

“Small businesses are the backbone of our communities,” BrightRidge CEO Jeff Dykes said. “Recovery efforts are only just beginning, and by helping our small business owners see a light at the end of the tunnel, it can strengthen resolve to push forward to rebuild from the historic and extensive flooding event.”

Individuals and businesses can contribute to the relief effort by visiting the Region AHEAD website at www.regionahead.com. This website provides information on applying for grants, which will be administered by the First Tennessee Development District Foundation. Grant applications will be available soon and will be reviewed based on need and available funds.

In addition to this donation, BrightRidge offers programs to assist customers impacted by the floods and other life events. The Heisse Johnson Hand Up program can help with past-due electric bills, and BrightRidge also offers a variety of flexible payment options to help customers manage their bills.

Additional assistance efforts will be developed as the flooding impact continues to be assessed and gaps in federal and state assistance can be targeted.

Call to Action:

• To learn more about donating or applying for a small business grant, visit www.RegionAHEAD.com.
• For information about BrightRidge assistance programs, call Customer Service at 423-952-5000 or visit www.BrightRidge.com for live chat support