Supporting Local Brick & Mortar Businesses In Disaster Recovery
The WNC Startup Fund is dedicated to revitalizing Western North Carolina by equipping local, non-chain retail with the digital presence they need to grow and succeed online. Our mission is to support “Market Rebuilders”—small, community-focused businesses—by providing access to vital marketing tools that drive local discovery, strengthen connections, and foster community-based economic recovery.
A Grassroots Initiative Of Virtual Storefronts By Uspace
OUR MISSION
Our mission is to drive community recovery by supporting local businesses impacted by natural disasters.
Powered by Virtual Storefronts by Uspace, the WNC Startup Fund helps local businesses reach local shoppers in local online search results. Your support rebuilds Main Street shopping districts and strengthens communities across the region. Each donation helps these businesses establish their digital footprint; bring more shoppers making purchases in their shop; and help their communities recover economically. That’s why we call these local non-chain businesses “Market Rebuilders.”
How It Works
100% of donations directly fund online marketing for qualified local businesses. Every dollar you donate is doubled by Virtual Storefronts.
Becoming a Market Rebuilder is simple and can make a significant difference in how your business connects with the local community. We provide your business with 2 years of online search marketing with a Virtual Storefront. Follow these three steps to apply:
- 1. Ensure Eligibility: Confirm that you are a non-chain business or organization that serves the public directly from a location. (Food trucks and mobile services are located at town center.) Our focus is primarily on the affected region of Western North Carolina, but we may have an opportunity to expand our program to other disaster affected regions. If your business needs assistance, we encourage you to apply.
- 2. To apply CLICK HERE to submit a Market Rebuilder Storefront Request
- 3. Our team will review your application. When you are accepted, you then take 5 minutes to fill out a New Storefront Request Form and we deliver your Storefront to you for edits or approval in about 7 days.
To learn more about Virtual Storefronts and get any questions answered visit Virtualstorefronts.co or Google ‘virtual storefronts,’ our information page is the fist result.
Donate For Recovery
Donations fund 2 Year Virtual Storefronts for eligible local businesses, with Virtual Storefronts matching every dollar, allowing non-chain businesses to access local marketing at no cost. When you donate, we strive to share the story of the business you support when it goes live. Donations are currently not tax-deductible until the WNC Startup Fund achieves 501(c)(3) nonprofit status. Indicate at checkout if you wish your donation to remain anonymous.
Support community recovery
One Veteran's Passion
The WNC Startup Fund started with the vision of one veteran passionate about helping WNC recover.
Veteran Marine sergeant and small business owner Justin Oxios founded the WNC Startup Fund on October 28, 2024. When Hurricane Helene struck at the same time as a planned move from Miami, Florida to Kentucky, Justin decided to change his plans and head to Western North Carolina to volunteer. Since early October Justin has joined with other volunteers working in the affected area to help clear yards, structures and other debris to help residents return to some kind of normalcy.
On October 26, Ray Miller introduced himself to Justin at the annual Welcome Home Vets event at Western Carolina Regional Airport in Andrews, NC, where he was introducing the public to the just-released VS Shopping app.
After learning from Ray about how Virtual Storefronts solves local marketing problems for local businesses, Justin said he wanted to buy 5 Storefronts to donate to businesses without a marketing budget recovering from Helene. We suggested that his donation could be made even more effective if we made it the foundation for others to contribute to the economic recovery of not only individual businesses, but entire communities.
One month after Hurricane Helene caused disaster across Western North Carolina, the WNC Startup Fund was born.
The Area Live Feed on our app blocks out everything except businesses in the area, giving local businesses an exclusive channel to their town.
Download Now & Join the VS Shopping App’s 2024 Pre-Launch
CORE VALUES
- Community Centered: We believe in strengthening local economies by enabling non-chain businesses to compete in the digital marketplace.
- Inclusivity: Our fund ensures that even the smallest shops with no marketing budget can have access to technology that elevates them online.
- Transparency: 100% of donations directly fund Virtual Storefronts for qualified local businesses.
- Local Resilience: By equipping businesses with the digital tools they need, we are committed to helping Western North Carolina build a sustainable, self-reliant economy.
To learn more about Virtual Storefronts and get any questions answered visit Virtualstorefronts.co or Google ‘virtual storefronts,’ our information page is the fist result.
Help rebuild local businesses
