IPEX Invests $500,000 in Next Phase of Hurricane Helene Recovery

Funding will advance one year of MountainTrue-led cleanup
in the French Broad River watershed

WOODFIN, N.C., SEPT. 16, 2026 —
IPEX today announced a $500,000 commitment to local conservation nonprofit MountainTrue to support the continued recovery of debris from the French Broad River following Hurricane Helene, building on the company’s more than $100 million investment to rebuild its Woodfin facility and support the company’s recovery from this historic and devastating storm.

Approximately two years after the storm, MountainTrue has removed nearly 6 million pounds of debris from rivers and streams across the region, supported in part by the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). IPEX’s $500,000 commitment will support MountainTrue’s continued cleanup, helping sustain the work into 2027 and maintain focus on remaining priority areas.

“IPEX’s Silver-Line facility has been part of this community for decades, and we intend to be here for decades to come,” said Colleen Pritchett, CEO of IPEX. “Helene brought historic flooding to our facility and surrounding communities, but it also showcased the resilience and perseverance that have long defined western North Carolina. That same spirit continues to inspire our commitment to the region’s recovery. MountainTrue brings deep expertise in river cleanup and restoration, and we’re proud to support their work and help advance the next phase of recovery.”

IPEX commissioned a comprehensive survey of the French Broad River from its Woodfin facility to the Tennessee border to better understand what pipe remains. MountainTrue will use this new funding to target remaining storm debris along the river system in Buncombe and Madison Counties in North Carolina and Cocke County, Tenn.

“The French Broad is the lifeblood of western North Carolina. It’s a place where we paddle, fish, explore, and connect with nature, and a vital natural and economic resource for communities throughout the region. That’s why its recovery is worth investing in,” said Anna Alsobrook, MountainTrue’s French Broad Riverkeeper. “We greatly appreciate IPEX stepping up to help us continue that work. These funds will help us keep experienced crews on the river, tackle some of the hardest-to-reach areas, and remove more debris from the French Broad.”

IPEX is also advancing efforts to strengthen its preparedness for future extreme weather. The company is working closely with the Town of Woodfin and MountainTrue, commissioning an engineering study to evaluate potential storage improvements and other measures to reduce the risk of future inventory loss.

“Helene changed the way we think about resilience in Woodfin,” said Woodfin Mayor Jim McAllister. “Recovery means addressing the damage left behind, but it also means learning from what happened and making decisions today that leave us better prepared for the future. I’m encouraged to see IPEX and MountainTrue working together to clean up the river, and IPEX continuing to work with the town around emergency preparedness.”

The cleanup investment and preparedness efforts will move forward in the coming months as IPEX continues working with MountainTrue, the Town of Woodfin, and other local partners on Hurricane Helene recovery.

# # #