Quick-turnaround loans of up to $5,000 are available to small businesses in eastern Kentucky affected by the devastating flooding that has left at least 28 people dead across more than a dozen counties.

Many of the region's local businesses were just starting to make a comeback from the pandemic, said Robert Allen, lending director at the Mountain Association, and now they'll need help rebuilding. He said residents and rescue crews who are beginning the cleanup process are counting on shops and stores to provide necessities.

"There are grocery stores that are there that are a vital part of the community, where the food source is," he said. "There are businesses that are going to have a really hard time building back, and the economic impact is real."

Allen said loan information may not be available online yet, but wants residents to know they should keep checking mtassociation.org for updates. President Joe Biden has declared the flooding a federal emergency, which opens the door for Federal Emergency Management Agency assistance and federal aid for recovery efforts. The loans are aimed at helping business owners with immediate needs, and have a six-month interest-only payback period.

Allen said the goal is to get local businesses "back on their feet" as quickly as possible "to cover expenses that are going to come from critical equipment they may need - loss of revenue, need more capital, cleanups - whatever the case may be."

Applications for FEMA assistance are online at disasterassistance.gov. If specific county information isn't available yet, residents can pre-apply and the application will go through once the county has been included in the federal declaration. Home Crisis Cleanup help is also available at crisiscleanup.org.

The Department of the Interior recently announced the largest single investment in local parks in the communities across the country and two Maryland cities will benefit from it.

Frederick, Maryland, received a $1 million grant from the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program for its Hill Street Park. The park is currently undergoing a renovation.

Bob Smith, deputy director of parks and recreation for the City of Frederick, said the skate park, which was built in 2004, will be the main beneficiary of the federal grant.

"It is entirely concrete," Smith pointed out. "In the mid-Atlantic region, we know concrete doesn't fare very well during the winter sometimes, with the freeze and thaw. The park is in disrepair. It does need a major renovation."

The grant will fund more than 50 projects across 24 states with more than $250 million, the single largest investment ever from the program. The city of Baltimore also received a nearly $1.4 million grant for the Baltimore Greenway Trail Network.

The grant is part of the Biden administration's America the Beautiful Initiative, a locally led effort to address climate issues, improve access to the outdoors and strengthen the economy. Smith hopes to have the design of the park renovations finalized by the middle of 2025. Other parts of the park include a basketball court, two multipurpose fields, two in-line rinks, a playground, pavilion and walking paths.

Smith emphasized it will be a major part of the community, once all parts of the park are finished.

"Certainly hope that the community will be able to enjoy the upgraded amenities," Smith added. "It will be a heavily used community park, neighborhood park. The revitalized park, once completed in its entirety, will be a gem for the community there."

In December, the Biden administration announced another grant opportunity totaling an estimated $450 million over the next five years.


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A winter storm is headed for north Alabama and southern middle Tennessee, and warming stations are working to provide a safe space for the unhoused.

The National Weather Service predicts that Lawrence, Limestone and Morgan counties could see up to four inches of snow today through Friday, with some surrounding areas expecting up to two inches.

Sgt. Rebecca Lahman with the Salvation Army in Decatur said they have been preparing for the storm, emphasizing the scope of the need in the surrounding area.

"We have about 175 homeless just in the city of Decatur. We also serve Morgan, Limestone and Lawrence counties, and in those three counties, there are no shelters," she said.

The Salvation Army has opened a 24/7 warming shelter since Monday at 4 p.m. and plans to continue until Sunday morning. The shelter is located at 114 14th Street Southwest in Decatur.

As they work to prepare for the winter storm, Lahman cited a critical need for volunteers to help with the warming shelter. Since the shelter serves three areas, Lahman noted a need to assist with transportation to and from the facility. Inside the building, the small crew is stretched thin, and overnight shifts are particularly difficult to staff, and Lahman said volunteers are crucial to ensuring no one is left out in the cold.

"I need volunteers desperately for Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and I do need some volunteers that are willing to stay overnight," she continued.

Lahman shared plans to keep the shelter open next Monday and Tuesday from 4 p.m. to 8 a.m., calling for community help through volunteers and donations. She said donations help with food purchases from the food bank, while such items as twin mattresses, sheets and blankets are also in high demand. People who want to donate or volunteer can text 256-556-5075.

The Department of Veterans Affairs has expanded GI Bill benefits, removing the 36-month cap for veterans with multiple periods of service. This change is expected to impact more than a million veterans, offering greater access to education and job training. Ohio is home to programs that aim to empower veterans, providing them with the tools to succeed after their service. One such initiative, DAV Patriot Bootcamp, has been making a profound impact.

Dan Clare is AV Patriot Bootcamp chief communications and outreach officer.

"Ohioans need to know about DAV Patriot Bootcamp. It's an entrepreneur program... trying to give them the building blocks to make success accessible to them after they've served and sacrificed for their country," he said.

The Ohio-founded DAV Patriot Bootcamp provides mentorship and resources to help veterans and their spouses start businesses. While the program has been praised for its impact, critics argue that initiatives like this only address a narrow aspect of veterans' reintegration, leaving broader challenges like affordable health care and housing unmet.

John Matecki, owner of the Whiskerman company, is a veteran who benefited from the bootcamp and said it shaped his entrepreneurial path.

"Since going through, it's a three-day, drinking-from-a-fire-hose-type entrepreneur course... I've landed an amazing mentor who helped get us copyright (and) trademark of our logo and name," he said.

While programs like DAV Patriot Bootcamp foster business success and economic contributions, veterans and advocates emphasize the need for comprehensive solutions to reintegration challenges. With upcoming bootcamp cohorts in February and May, Ohio veterans have new opportunities to engage, but questions remain about addressing the broader needs of those who served.


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