ERWIN, Tenn. (WJHL) — Floods from Hurricane Helene dealt the Erwin Industrial Park a devastating blow six months ago. Now, the companies that employed 250 people here hope that they’re on the comeback trail.
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“I’m optimistic that we’re going to get through the SBA process, get some funds to help us start out, get one line running,” Foam Products Vice President Perry Muse said. He said the company suffered an estimated $7 million in damage and will need about $4 million from SBA to make its numbers work.
Foam Products is one of six companies whose fortunes took that kind of turn as floodwaters from a surging Nolichucky River ripped through the park. Muse hopes that before the end of the year, he can bring back some of the 54 people who worked there pre-flood.
“I’m one of the three board members, and so I’m boots on the ground here and been with the company for over 22 years,” Muse said of the partly employee-owned, Georgia-headquartered manufacturer. “They have confidence that we’re doing the right things here, which we are. We all want this plant to be back up and running again.”
Unicoi County Economic Development Director Austin Finch still hopes all six companies in the park will return…