Macon approves loan fund for small businesses

BY JESSI STONE N EWS EDITOR

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Macon County Economic Development Commission has established the Reopening Macon Fund. The program, funded by a $257,500 appropriation from the Macon County Board of Commissioners, will provide low-interest loans to severely impacted small businesses in Macon County, helping them to remain open.

Commissioners held a public hearing to gather public input before allocating the $257,000 from the EDC reserve fund. Several small business owners spoke in favor of the measure, saying a quick, small loan would help them during this difficult time.

Cory McCall, co-owner of Outdoor 76 in Franklin, encouraged the board to adopt the program. “We’ve been in business for 10 years and have never experienced something like this — to be faced with such dire circumstances during our busiest time of year with the AT thru hikers,” he said. “This will be really good for businesses that need an extra boost of money. It’s clear with PPP (Payroll Protection Program funds) there’s a disconnect to what local Main Street businesses need right now.”

Tim Crabtree, owner of Motor Company Grill and Crabtree General Store, agreed that the PPP didn’t take into account what

As part of its mission to continuously provide communication solutions that evolve with the needs of our world, TekTone — based in Franklin — has acquired majority ownership in Stay Smart Care, a company whose expertise lies in Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) solutions. Stay Smart Care will operate as a subsidiary of TekTone, allowing the two companies to provide a wider variety of intercommunication solutions and resources to care providers in a variety of markets.

“For the past two years, Stay Smart Care has developed the most comprehensive managed Remote Patient Monitoring solution for successful aging in place,” said Mark Feinberg, Founder and CEO of Stay Smart Care. “As a TekTone subsidiary, we have the opportunity to leverage 45 years of knowledge and expertise in communication technology, product development and sales. Together, we will offer the senior care market the most complete managed monitoring solution available.”

“Stay Smart Care’s solutions definitely create added value for the TekTone community of customers,” said TekTone President John Mira-Knippel. “As an ISO-9001 registered company with almost five decades of success, TekTone presents a solid foundation small businesses needed. While it provides businesses money to bring back their staff, many small businesses don’t need all their staff back right now. With the restaurant closing in March, he said they lost thousands of dollars in fresh food that had been ordered and no way to recoup those costs.

“There’s too many stipulations of how it had to be used,” he said of the PPP.

Linda Harbuck, director of the Franklin Chamber of Commerce, said a majority of the chamber’s 400 members are small business owners. Together, they represent a large percentage of the workforce in the county and are struggling to stay open right now.

“I’ve been with the chamber for 50 years and I’ve never seen anything like this. The number of small businesses not able to pay their $200 annual membership — it breaks my heart,” she said. “I think without small businesses this county and community wouldn’t be the same. We need to help them.”

Commissioner Karl Gillespie said he wished there was a way to make the fund a grant program instead of a loan program.

Commissioner Ronnie Beale said the EDC did consider that but felt like since the requirements for the small loans were so minimal that really any small business could qualify, but the purpose is to reach the businesses truly in need in order to reopen or stay open, upon which Stay Smart Care can thrive and grow. We are excited to be able to introduce our existing customers to new ways of creating revenue for their business, as well as new ways of caring for seniors specifically.”

As the aging population continues to rise, the senior care industry is continuing to evolve, and providers must adapt to serve their communities, as well as expand to include those outside of their walls. Together with Stay Smart Care, TekTone will offer a wide platform of solutions to help providers not only improve their existing services, but help them extend those services to those in need of care beyond the physical confinements of their campus.

Stay Smart Care is the only senior care solution that provides continuous, nonintrusive healthcare monitoring with smart technology. Stay Smart Care offers Remote Patient Monitoring solutions for senior living communities, at-home care models, home care agencies and Medicaid/Medicare providers. For more information, visit www.staysmartcare.com.

For over 45 years, TekTone has designed and manufactured UL Listed Tek-CARE nurse call, wireless nurse/emergency call, wander management, Tek-SAFE area of rescue assistance systems, and Tek-ALERT integration systems. TekTone products are designed and built in our FDA-registered, state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Franklin.

Visit www.tektone.com or call 800.327.8466 for more information.

“So instead of giving them the money, this might motivate them to keep their business going. They just have to show hardship in making a payment. I’ve always felt like having skin in the game is a motivator,” he said.

Repayment is expected either from more permanent funding sources or from future cash flow of the business. Loan amounts

Downtown Franklin.

range from $2,500 to $10,000 and are available to businesses located, or based, in Macon County, have between 1 and 49 employees, been in business at least 12 months and have suffered a loss of revenue of 25% or more due to COVID-19.

“COVID-19 has greatly impacted Macon County’s economy and the recovery will take time,” said Jim Tate, Chairman of the Macon County Board of Commissioners. “Providing financial resources for local businesses will play an essential part in reopening our economy.”

Additional partners supporting the fund include the Franklin Area Chamber of Commerce, the Highlands Chamber of Commerce, Southwestern Community College’s Small Business Center and Western Carolina University’s Small Business and Technology Development Center. “The Reopening Macon Fund will provide much needed assistance to our small business community. Many do not have the resources to weather a longterm recovery. A loan of $2500 or $5000 could make the difference in surviving or being forced to close,” Beale said. Mountain BizWorks, a nonprofit community financial institution based out of Asheville, will be the administrator of the Reopening Fund, providing loan processing and underwriting services. Local businesses can apply online at mountainbizworks.org/reopeningmaconfund or contact the Macon County Economic Development Commission at

TekTone becomes majority owner of Stay Smart Care

828.369.2306 for further information.

Welcomes Prosthodontist Jackson Blackburn

DMD MS

Dr. Blackburn is a dentist with specialty training in complex dental concerns including implants, dentures, full mouth rehabilitation, and maxillofacial prosthodontics.

Dr. Blackburn is excited to be joining the Smoky Mountain Dentistry family. He can help you create the smile you want and deserve.

We are accepting new patients, call to schedule an appointment.

Dr. Jed Lambert, Dr. Elizabeth Ferguson, Dr. Robert Franklin, Dr. Jackson Blackburn 30 MIAMI DRIVE, WAYNESVILLE 828-452-5807 SmokyMountainDentistry.com

Franklin Hospice House under construction

Construction of SECU Hospice House in Franklin has crossed the 50 percent completion mark. It is anticipated that the region’s new hospice inpatient facility will be operational this coming fall. Four Season, The Care you Trust, a hospice care provider currently serving Western North Carolina, will operate within SECU Hospice House once construction is complete.

Fundraising for SECU Hospice House continues to move forward as well. Through the continued generous support of the community, Hospice House Foundation of WNC has raised $4.2 million, including a $1 million grant from the State Employees’ Credit Union. HHFWNC needs to raise an additional $300,000 to reach its $4.5 million Campaign goal.

The hospice house will provide a six-bed hospice inpatient facility for the far western region, including Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Jackson, Macon, and Swain counties, and Northeast Georgia.

To learn more about this important regional initiative, visit www.hhfwnc.org, call 828.524.6375 or email micheleralderson@gmail.com.

Foundation funds expanded care in Highlands

Highlands Cashiers Health Foundation has announced a formal agreement to expand access to primary care on the Highlands-Cashiers plateau by funding a new practice that includes a rural teaching program in conjunction with UNC Health Sciences at MAHEC.

The partnership is with HCHF, Blue Ridge Health and the Mountain Area Health Education Center. This collaboration exemplifies the fulfillment of the HCHF’s mission to improve the health and well-being of Highlands, Cashiers, and surrounding communities.

“We acknowledge from the outset this project’s scope is wide and our goal and related objectives are ambitious requiring significant contributions of time, talent and treasure from the partners and members of the community,” said Dr. Walter Clark, Chair of the Highlands Cashiers Health Foundation. “However, we know with the determination of these partners along with the philanthropic passion of this community, we are on the road to a true success.”

The partnership will work toward the goal of opening a primary care clinic in the HighlandsCashiers area that will provide universal access to healthcare for the population of Highlands and Cashiers as well as the workforce that travels from other communities throughout Macon and Jackson Counties.

More details will be announced in the coming months surrounding the timeline and physician team that will serve the area. In the meantime, residents can be assured that we are working toward access to universal, integrated healthcare and an increased supply of healthcare providers for the area. If you would like to support this endeavor, do not hesitate to contact HCHF at 828.482.6510 or visit www.hchealthfnd.org.

HRMC eases visitor restrictions

Haywood Regional Medical Center is transitioning from a zero-visitor protocol to limited visitor restrictions as the hospital gradually resumes elective and non-urgent cases and services at its facilities.

The decision was made as current projections continue to indicate a lower than expected volume of COVID-19 in the region and after careful review of state and federal guidance. The updated restrictions, which will now allow inpatients to have one visitor or support person per day, between 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

“We continue to monitor closely the prevalence of the virus in our community as we adapt our operations to safely care for and support our patients, and we feel confident that it is safe to begin allowing limited visitors again at this time,” said Chris Fensterle, interim CEO of HRMC.

To help protect patients, providers, employees and the community, anyone entering the hospital will be screened for symptoms consistent with Covid-19 based on CDC guidelines. Each inpatient may have one well visitor per day. Healthy visitors must be at least 16 years old and will be required to wear a mask they bring from home during their visit.

Visitors that don’t pass the screening at entry will be asked to reschedule their visit for when they are symptom free.

Canton pool open for season

The Champion Credit Union Aquatics Facility opened to the public Monday, June 8, with several new rules and precautionary measures being taken to ensure the safety of both staff and patrons.

The operation of the pool and these rules are subject to change as the town of Canton navigates the pandemic. Following Gov. Cooper’s Phase 2 regulations, currently 150 patrons are allowed within the facility and no more than 60 patrons allowed in the water at one time. To accommodate this, each patron will be provided 1 of 3 different color wristbands upon entry. Swimmers of 1 particular color will be allowed to swim for a period of time, when that designated time has elapsed that color will be asked to get out of the water so that another colored wristband may circulate in and so forth. This is being done to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to swim and enjoy their time at the facility.

Only Haywood County residents will be admitted — patrons 16+ must provide a valid ID or license for entry; all patrons under 16 must be accompanied by an adult; drop-offs are not allowed at this time; all patron’s temperatures will be screened at the gate. Anyone with a temperature over 98.9 degrees will not be allowed to enter the facility; adhere to 6 feet social distancing guidelines between groups.

For more details, visit www.cantonnc.com/swimming-pool.

Haywood Regional Medical Center earns highest quality ratings

With its most recent report, released in April 2020, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ Five-Star Quality Rating System has recognized Home Care Services of Haywood Regional Medical Center with a 5-star rating in both quality and patient satisfaction.

According to the data, the Waynesville home health provider achieved the highest rating possible in both categories. Home Care Services is a home health partner of HRMC and part of a joint venture partnership with LHC Group, a national provider of in-home healthcare services with 32,000 employees operating locations in 35 states and the District of Columbia.

The CMS Star Ratings – issued quarterly – are highly sought after by home health providers and seen as a key differentiator and indicator of overall quality and excellence in the home health industry. The star rating system was instituted by CMS as part of its Home Health Compare website to provide a “tool for consumers to use when choosing a home health care provider.”

“It is more important than ever that local providers maintain their focus on quality care and service in helping safeguard the health and safety of the communities they serve,” said Keith Myers, LHC Group’s chairman and chief executive officer. “Our teammates at Home Care Services of Haywood Regional Medical Center are an excellent example of this commitment in action. The entire LHC Group family of in-home healthcare providers offers congratulations on their outstanding performance.”

Harris welcomes new surgeon

Harris Regional Hospital recently welcomed board certified general surgeon Dr. Allison Palumbo to Harris Surgical Associates.

Palumbo will be providing general surgery services to Jackson, Swain, Graham, and Macon counties and the surrounding region. She specializes in breast surgical oncology, including breast cancer genetics and high-risk breast cancer screening and has extensive training in lumpectomy as well as skin-sparing and nipple-sparing mastectomy techniques. Palumbo will also perform general surgery cases including hernia repair, gallbladder removal, and colon and small bowel resections.

Palumbo graduated from Marshall University School of Medicine and completed a general surgery residency at Wright State University in Dayton. Palumbo served in the United States Air Force as a general surgeon at MacDill Air Force Base. She was deployed to Bagram Air Field in Afghanistan where she served as chief of general surgery for the country’s largest hospital.

Harris Surgical Associates is located at 98 Doctors Drive in Sylva. For more information, visit the Find a Doctor page on myharrisregional.com or call 828.586.3976.