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WNC Small Business Initiative (WNCSBI): Round Two Now Open
$30 Million Available for Small Businesses in WNC
Last week, Governor Stein announced $30 million in recovery grants for Western North Carolina small businesses affected by Hurricane Helene. The Western North Carolina Small Business Initiative (WNCSBI)—a partnership between Appalachian Community Capital and Dogwood Health Trust—will partner with Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) to provide relief grants of up to $50,000.
Key eligibility requirements for the grant program include:
- Sustained physical or economic damage not covered by insurance or other funding sources
- Currently operating or planning to reopen
- Registered as a for-profit business
- Business did not receive previous WNCSBI I grant
Grant funds can cover physical damage repairs, environmental cleanup, payment of business-related rents or mortgages, employee retention and hiring, and more. Applications are open until 11:59 p.m. on February 21, 2025.
| Learn More & Apply for the WNCSBI II Grant |
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City of Asheville Input Sessions on Disaster Recovery Funding
Share Feedback In-Person or Virtually Between Feb. 10 and Feb. 26
The City of Asheville is inviting residents to six public meetings in February to discuss how $225 million in federal disaster recovery funds will be spent through the Community Development Block Grant - Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) program. Through upcoming meetings, residents can learn about the grant program, understand how funds will be allocated, and share their community's recovery needs.
Public Meeting Schedule:
- February 10 | 3–4:30 p.m. | Virtual meeting
- February 12 | 4–5:30 p.m. | West Asheville Library | 942 Haywood Road
- February 18 | 6–7:30 p.m. | Virtual meeting
- February 19 | 6–7:30 p.m. | Skyland/South Buncombe Library | 260 Overlook Road
- February 24 | 6:30–8 p.m. | Dr. Wesley Grant Sr. Southside Community Center | 285 Livingston Street
- February 26 | 6–7:30 p.m. | East Asheville Library | 3 Avon Road
| Register for Recovery Funding Input Meeting |
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Buncombe County Helene ‘Resources for Recovery’ Event Series
Attend a Drop-In Helene Recovery Resource Event This Month
Buncombe County and community partners are hosting a Recovery Resource Event Series where you can drop-in and ask questions, apply to relief programs, and learn more about what support is available. Aiming to answer community members’ questions in one place, attendees at the event series with be able to talk with representatives from FEMA, Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, American Red Cross, C. Disaster Case Management, Medicaid, FCC Environmental, Buncombe County services, and more.
Resources for Recovery Events Schedule:
- February 13 | 5–7 p.m. | Barnardsville Fire Station | 100 Dillingham Road
- February 20 | 5–7 p.m. | Owen High School | 99 State Road 2468
- February 25 | 5–7 p.m. | Reynolds High School | 1 Rocket Drive
- February 27 | 5–7 p.m. | Leicester Community Center | 2979 New Leicester Highway
| Learn More About the Resource for Recovery Series |
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Free Debris Removal at Your Business, Commercial Property, or Private Residence
Update to Private & Commercial Property Debris Removal Program
Buncombe County recently updated its Private & Commercial Property Debris Removal (PPDR) program, emphasizing that businesses and commercial properties are eligible for the program in addition to private residential properties. The PPDR program, different from the public right-of-way debris removal program, is designed to help property/business owners in Buncombe County who cannot take their debris to the right-of-way for pickup, may not have debris removal insurance, or need demolition of an unsafe structure at no cost.
| Apply at BuncombeReady.org |
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Special Assistance through the City of Asheville's FAST
Floodplain Assistance Support Team
The City of Asheville’s Floodplain Assistance Support Team (FAST) is an interdepartmental team dedicated to prioritizing floodplain assistance and clarifying floodplain requirements. Those needing special assistance to better evaluate their development options can sign up for “FAST Sessions”—free sessions that act as early assistance meetings. FAST Sessions are offered twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays. You can contact the team by email at fast@ashevillenc.gov.
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