Our community continues to make strides in recovery following the devastation of Hurricane Helene. Whether your business has already reopened or faces a longer road ahead, Explore Asheville and the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority are here to support you—with resources like the Always Asheville Fund, which received more than 600 applications, and the Love Asheville From Afar initiative now supporting more than 700 regional businesses. We’ve compiled a comprehensive list of community resources and hope you share them with your networks.

As we return to our regular monthly partner newsletter, we're honored to shine a spotlight on the determination and collaborative spirit that defines our deeply rooted and ever-evolving Appalachian community. 

GRANTS FOR BUSINESSES

FOR SMALL BUSINESSES

  • Mountain BizWorks - Asheville-Buncombe Rebuilding Together Grant Fund, up to $25,000 award, $1.3 million available | Application due 11/27
  • Dogwood Health Trust & Appalachian Community Capital - WNC Small Business Initiative (WNCSBI), up to $25,000 award | Application due 11/27
  • U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation - Small Business Hurricane Recovery Grant Program, up to $5,000 award | Application
  • Preservation Society of Asheville and Buncombe County - Brick and Mortar Grants, $500–$5,000 award | Application
  • Explore Asheville & the BCTDA - Always Asheville Fund, $5,000–$10,000 award | Application closed 11/11

FOR ARTS & CULTURE ORGANIZATIONS

FOR NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS

  • Community Foundation WNC - Emergency and Disaster Response Fund, $25,000–$50,000 award | Application
  • United Way of North Carolina - NC Disaster Relief Fund, $10,000 max award | Application

LOANS FOR BUSINESSES

  • Mountain Bizworks - Helene Business Recovery Fund Loan Program, up to $100,000 per loan, 1% interest ​with interest-only payments for the first year | Application
  • US Small Business Administration - Disaster Loans (Physical Damage, Economic Injury, Mitigation Assistance) | Application

GRANTS FOR INDIVIDUALS

FOR ARTISTS

  • Center for Craft - Craft Futures Fund, $500 max stipend | Application
  • ArtsAVL - Emergency Relief Grant, $500 max stipend​ | Application
  • RADA Foundation - River Arts District Hurricane Helene Relief Fund, $300 max stipend​ | Application
  • Adolph and Esther Gottlieb Foundation - Emergency Grant, $15,000 max award​ | Application
  • The NC Arts Foundation - NC Arts Disaster Relief Fund (In Development)
  • Asheville Fringe Festival - Artist Relief Fund, $250 max stipend (In Development​)

FOR HOSPITALITY, FOOD & BEVERAGE WORKERS

  • North Carolina Restaurant & Lodging Association - NC Hospitality Workers Relief Fund ​| Application
  • Asheville Independent Restaurant Association (AIR) - WNC Tip it Forward, $500 stipends | Application
  • Giving Kitchen - Emergency Assistance | Application
  • Southern Smoke Foundation - Emergency Relief Fund | Application
  • The Meeting Industry Fund - Financial assistance for meeting professionals | Application
  • SEARCH Foundation - SEARCH Crisis Funds, financial assistance for event professionals | Application

FEDERAL RESOURCES FOR INDIVIDUALS

  • NC Department of Commerce - Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA), Temporary payments for people whose employment has been impacted directly due to a disaster | Learn more
  • FEMA - Disaster Assistance for Individuals and Businesses, Grants for temporary housing, home repairs, and low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses | Learn more
ACCESS SHAREABLE RESOURCE LIST
Update Your Business Status on ExploreAsheville.com
New Online Tool Shows Which Local Businesses Are Open and Closed

While many areas begin to welcome visitors, some neighborhoods—including sections of the River Arts District, Biltmore Village, and Swannanoa—have a longer path to recovery. As our community makes steady progress, we’re encouraging visitors to support local businesses by visiting respectfully—with heart, patience, and planning.

To keep visitors and residents informed, we’ve launched a new tool that lets users check the status of local businesses. Our listings now show which places are OPEN, TEMPORARILY CLOSED, CLOSED, or have a CALL FOR STATUS label. Website users can search by business categories or region to see what’s currently accessible.

HOW TO UPDATE YOUR BUSINESS STATUS:

Choose one of two methods:

  1. Complete the Business Status Update Form here
  2. Update via the Partner Portal:
    • Log in to your account 
    • Navigate to: Profile > Accounts > Eye icon > Manage amenities
    • Scroll to "Business Continuity" at the bottom
    • Select your current business status

Need assistance? Contact partnersupport@exploreasheville.com.

Please note: Listings will show as "temporarily closed" until you provide an update.
New Event Calendar Returns to ExploreAsheville.com
In Case You Missed It: Introducing Our New Events Platform

As events begin making their comeback and our community works towards recovery, it’s a great time for a reminder about our new event calendar system. Just before the storm, we launched a new platform for submitting events that requires creating a new account. If you haven’t had a chance to check it out, here are the key details:

Key changes:
👨‍💻 New login: You'll make a new login on the new platform, only for events
🌐 Partner Portal: Will no longer handle events
🔁 Data transfer: Previously submitted events will auto-transfer to new system

What's new:
📲 Pre-fill events using Facebook
🎟️ Eventbrite sync automatically submits partners' events
💾 Save event templates for quick
submissions

For assistance with the event calendar, or to remove rescheduled, cancelled, or postponed events, contact Partnership Coordinator Shelby Pearsall.

Helpful links:

  • Create an account on the new events submission platform
  • Read this handbook for guidance on the new system
  • View the Explore Asheville Event Calendar
Increase Patronage at Your Business Through Asheville on Bikes Events

Every other Thursday, Asheville on Bikes coordinates a bike ride to explore the city and support Asheville’s local businesses. Asheville on Bikes is seeking a fresh lineup of businesses to feature in their upcoming Ride Your City events. Interested in participating as a ride stop? Fill out the form below.
Upcoming Benefit Events in Our Community
Ways to Support and Gather for Relief and Recovery

Scuttlebutt + Hole! | November 15 | LaZoom Room | Benefitting Hole Doughnuts and Noodle Hole

Asheville Drag Brunch: The Brunch of Oz | November 16 | Banks Ave. Bar | Benefitting Cornbread and Roses 

Benefit Concert + Art Market | November 16 | Land of the Sky UCC | Benefitting The Mankind Project Disaster Fund and One World Charitable Trust

Save the Land: Benefit Concert for the Warren Wilson College Farm | November 16 | Asheville Music Hall | Benefitting the Warren Wilson College Farm

Rebuild RAD – Local Market | Every Saturday through December | Grey Eagle Music Hall | Benefitting WNC artists

Big Love for Salvage Station Benefit ft DJ Logic & The JLloyd MashUp + MORE  | November 17 | Asheville Music Hall | Benefitting Salvage Station employees

DayLit Market | November 17 | Visuals Rooftop, Eulogy, and Burial Taproom | Benefitting WNC artists

Wrong Way Revival | November 17 | Wrong Way River Lodge & Cabins | Benefitting Wrong Way employees

Hurricane Helene Benefit at Sly Grog Lounge | November 22 | Sly Grog Lounge | Benefitting WNC non-profits

Reclaim the RAD: Flood Debris Resurrected Into Art | Opening Reception - November 23; showing through January 2025 | The Czart Gallery | Benefitting River Arts District Artists Foundation, ArtsAVL, and North Carolina Arts Foundation

Zillicoah Mini Golf Tournament Fundraiser Hosted by Salt Face Mule | November 30 | Salt Face Mule Brewing Co. | Benefitting Zillicoah Beer Company

Delivering Balanced & Sustainable Growth

Encouraging Safe & Responsible Travel 

Engaging & Inviting More Diverse Audiences

Promoting & Supporting Asheville's
Creative Spirit

FOLLOW OUR PROGRESS

 

Facebook    LinkedIn    Email    Website