By Cisco Systems Inc.
Publication Date: 2026-02-19 14:20:00
NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESS Newswire / February 19, 2026 / By Julie Rose
When Hurricane Helene struck Western North Carolina in September 2024, the storm didn’t just damage buildings and roads. It disrupted the economic fabric of the region, shuttering small businesses that had served their communities for generations, displacing workers from jobs they’d held for years, and leaving families uncertain about their financial futures.
In Helene’s immediate aftermath, Cisco Crisis Response quickly mobilized to restore connectivity and help local organizations meet the urgent needs of affected communities. But as the region began transitioning from relief to recovery, we worked alongside local leaders to identify priorities and understand how we could best support that work.
In Western North Carolina – the first site in Cisco’s 40 Communities initiative – that meant aligning our engagement with long-term economic recovery efforts and supporting partners who were already…
