Waypoint Resilience
Recovery & Reinvention for Outdoor Businesses Impacted by Hurricane Helene
If your outdoor business was affected by Hurricane Helene, this program offers structured support to help you recover and reinvent. Through expert coaching, peer collaboration, and actionable planning, you’ll leave with clear next steps for your business.
What is the program?
With a focus on leadership, financial clarity, team building, operational excellence, and marketing strategy, the Waypoint Resilience Cohort program combines mentorship and peer support to assess your business’s health, make strategic decisions, and create a robust plan for a thriving future.
Participants Receive:
- 10 hours of free 1:1 small business coaching.
- A $3,000 micro grant to support their learning and recovery.
How is it structured?
We will provide:
- Facilitated sessions
- Operations and marketing mastermind discussions
- Financial planning and forward strategy
- Practical tools and coaching support
You will leave with:
- A clear assessment of your current financial and operational position
- Prioritized action steps to stabilize and strengthen your business
- Insight from experienced outdoor industry operators
- Practical marketing strategies to restore visibility and demand
- A focused 90-day resilience and recovery plan
Who should apply?
- Businesses that are wholly or substantially outdoor-industry focused, including gear manufacturers, outfitters and guides, outdoor-focused retail, or tech, services, or supply chain companies primarily serving the outdoor industry.
- Must have been operational at the time of Hurricane Helene (9/27/2024), and be currently operating or planning to reopen.
- Must be able to commit to participating in the full cohort program.
- Residents of the following counties can apply: Carter, Claiborne, Cocke, Grainger, Greene, Hamblen, Hawkins, Jefferson, Johnson, Sullivan, Unicoi, Washington, and adjacent counties.
If your business is navigating financial strain, operational disruption, or strategic uncertainty following the storm, this cohort was built for you.
What are the dates?
- Applications Open: March 4, 2026
- Applications Close: March 20, 2026
- Program Begins: March 24, 2026
- Program Ends: May 12, 2026
Where does it take place?
- Initial In-Person Session: Location TBD
- 6 Virtual Sessions
- Closing In-Person Session: Location TBD
*Must be able to commit to participating in the full cohort program.
This project is funded under a grant contract with the State of Tennessee, Department of Economic and Community Development.
If you have questions, please contact us:
Liz Bennett
Executive Director
liz@syncspace.org
Jennifer Ritter
Program Manager
jennifer@syncspace.org
