The grit, gumption, and sense of community of our people and place have been beacons of light through the immense loss and heavy heartache following Hurricane Helene. Power and water have been restored in many places including downtown Asheville, Weaverville, and South Asheville, and our community's recovery is coming in stages and pockets. We respect high impact areas like the River Arts District, Biltmore Village, and Swannanoa will not return as quickly as others and face significant challenges.

We are also full of hope and heart as businesses reopen to sustain neighborhoods and local livelihoods. As we navigate this challenging recovery period, we are sharing updates and opportunities for our community to come together and support one another.

This partner alert provides the latest resources for businesses and the broader community. Previously shared resources can be found at always.exploreasheville.com/business-resources. We recommend everyone continue to tune into the daily 11 a.m. Buncombe County update.
Share Your Business Status to Help Us Track Recovery
 
We understand that each business is navigating its own path—whether you’ve reopened, are planning to reopen, are providing relief, or are still determining next steps. Wherever you may be on your recovery journey, we’d love to hear from you via this this brief business status form. Your input will help us keep the community informed, identify where additional support may be needed, and track steps forward in our community’s recovery. 
 
Using the responses from the form, we plan to introduce a new “Green, Yellow, Red” system for business listings on ExploreAsheville.com:  
  • Green = Open
  • Yellow = Temporarily closed
  • Red = Closed for the foreseeable future

All businesses will initially be marked yellow until we receive an update from you. The Explore Asheville team is working on website integrations to keep customers and the community informed. We thank you for your participation and for helping us monitor recovery efforts.
Join Us for a Community Viewing of the Concert for Carolina

Concert for Carolina—featuring Luke Combs, Eric Church, Billy Strings, James Taylor & Friends, Sheryl Crow, Keith Urban, Bailey Zimmerman, The Avett Brothers, Scotty McCreery, Chase Rice, and Parmalee—will take place on October 26 at the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte. All proceeds, including sponsorships, will go directly towards relief efforts in the Carolina region.

Although the concert is sold out, we are creating opportunities for our local community to come together—here in Asheville—for a free Community Viewing of the Concert for Carolina on October 26 at the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium. Be on the lookout for an invitation and additional details, coming tomorrow.
Sign Up for the Love Asheville From Afar E-Commerce Hub

We want to thank the 450+ local businesses that have joined the new Love Asheville From Afar e-commerce hub. This initiative, in partnership with the Asheville Downtown Association, Go Local Asheville, ArtsAVL, the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce, Asheville Independent Restaurant Association, MADE X MTNS, Mountain BizWorks, and JD Ellison & Company, creates one easy place for people to shop, support, and sustain Asheville area and Buncombe County businesses from afar.

If your business has an online store or donation platform, we’d love to include it. Click the button below to get involved. 
Buncombe County Announces New Process for Reopening Food Establishments

Buncombe County has announced a streamlined process for reopening food service establishments. To reopen, restaurant operators should complete the Emergency Operations Plan for Food Service Establishments form. Food service establishments can reopen after submitting the form if the owner/manager attests that all answers in the form are answered "yes." Any "no" responses will need to be reviewed by Buncombe County Environmental Health. A routine follow-up visit will be conducted to ensure compliance with the submitted information.

Restaurants that have not yet submitted the form can do so by:
New Federal, State, and Regional Resources
The U.S. Department of Labor approved $10M in initial emergency grant funding to support disaster recovery jobs and training services in response to Hurricane Helene. The National Dislocated Worker Grant will be implemented locally by the Land of Sky Regional Council. It aims to offer temporary disaster relief jobs for cleanup and the delivery of humanitarian assistance to address immediate basic needs for those displaced by Hurricane Helene. Additionally, it will provide training and services to individuals in affected communities.

Yesterday, Governor Roy Cooper issued an executive order increasing unemployment payments for North Carolinians who lived or worked in counties impacted by Hurricane Helene. Weekly unemployment benefits will increase from a maximum of $350 to $600 and will be paid through March 29, 2025, under the federal Disaster Unemployment Assistance program.
Land of Sky Working to Obtain Starlinks for Small Businesses

The Land of Sky Regional Council is working to obtain Starlink Internet Communication Systems for small businesses without internet access. Fill out this survey to be considered. Businesses with fewer than 50 employees will be prioritized.

Candlelight Vigil to be Held at Pack Square Park

On Tuesday, October 22, at 6 p.m. at Pack Square Park, Mayor Manheimer, city council members, county commissioners, and our legislative delegation will host a candlelight vigil to remember all that was devastated and lost by Hurricane Helene. This will be a time to pause, honor those affected, and come together as a community in healing and support.

For the latest information on business resources, visit the Always Asheville hub.
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