Two long-standing members of the Builders Association of the Blue Ridge Mountains (BABRM) have received $25,000 disaster relief grants to help rebuild their businesses after Hurricane Helene.
The funding was made possible through the Home Building Industry Disaster Relief Fund, a national program managed by the National Association of Home Builders that provides direct financial assistance to members and local associations impacted by natural disasters.
“With these funds, we were able to support two of our most deeply impacted members in a time of need,” says Megan Carroll, Executive Officer of BABRM. “Disaster recovery for us ties directly to our mission as an association.”
Identifying Those Most in Need
BABRM began identifying potential recipients soon after the storm when staff personally called all 1,200 members to check in and understand the extent of the damage across the region.
“We started looking at who stood out and who had significant damage along the way,” says Sarah Cosgrove, BABRM’s Advocacy and Community Engagement Director.
The two companies selected—WSM Craft in Asheville and Arbor Zen Hardwood Floors in Black Mountain—are BABRM members and respected players in the region’s building industry. Both faced major losses during the hurricane but continued to show up for others in the aftermath.
“Since day one, we’ve seen our members and our staff show up in ways that are kind of unimaginable prior to living through a storm like this,” says Carroll.
WSM Craft: Finding a Path Forward
In Asheville, heirloom home designer WSM Craft was among the many businesses upended by Hurricane Helene. Founder Smith McAulay remembers how suddenly everything came to a halt.
“The storm brought two feet of the Swannanoa River into my living room and effectively put a hard stop on any future horizon we have,” McAulay says.
The $25,000 disaster-relief grant helps give the business the stability it needs to relaunch in 2026. “This award provides crucial funding for us to have the runway we need to get back into our normal state of operations,” McAulay says.
A BABRM member since 2013, McAulay has been deeply involved in the association’s work and is now grateful to be on the receiving end of that same support. He says, “I just want to express my deep gratitude to the association, the leadership within the association, as well as the members of the community who have provided this funding to WSM Craft as part of our recovery.”
Arbor Zen: Restoring Roots in the Community
Arbor Zen Hardwood Floors in Black Mountain was also among the many local businesses hit hard. The company, led by owner Grayson Deal, suffered major flooding that left its warehouse underwater and several team members displaced from their homes.
But even amid the loss, Deal stepped up for his community. As an active member of BABRM’s Disaster Recovery Task Force, he joined fellow builders, tradespeople, and volunteers to assist with cleanup and coordinate resources for families in need.
“Since the storm, the recovery process has been one of grit and grace,” he says. “We patched the roof in our warehouse and cleaned the mud, but most importantly, we had to take care of one another and make sure that our people—which is our strongest asset—were okay.”
Deal says the relief grant will help Arbor Zen regain its footing after months of disruption.
“Being a member of the Builders Association is a great reminder that we’re not alone,” he says. “We have a community of professionals we can lean on, we can help, and we can ask for help when needed.”
Join Us in Rebuilding Western North Carolina
The Builders Association of the Blue Ridge Mountains is proud to stand beside the professionals who are rebuilding our region—one home, one business, and one community at a time. When you join BABRM, you become part of a network that not only advocates for the building industry but also shows up when it matters most. Join today.
