What we do COVID-19 Business Resources Notice: For area businesses, the Asheville Chamber of Commerce has compiled the Coronavirus Resource Guide. We encourage local businesses to respond to the COVID-19 Business Survey. Asheville is recognized worldwide for being a hub for healthcare industries, maker economies and craft entrepreneurship, breweries, small businesses, travel and tourism, breathtaking natural resources, and a rich place for arts, culture, music and entertainment. The Community and Economic Development Department promotes the City’s development polices and leverages resources in order to enhance economic opportunity. We work with the community to improve economic and social conditions to create a vibrant, robust and sustainable city. Contact: Angelica Driver Updated 4/6/2021 ConnectCommunity and Economic Development70 Court Plaza, Asheville, NC 28801Mailing AddressPO Box 7148, Asheville, NC 28802Business HoursMonday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.Interim DirectorNikki Reid, nreid@ashevillenc.govAdministrative AssistantAngelica Driver, adriver@ashevillenc.govMain Phone Line828-232-4505Additional LinksStaff Directory Related Services MWSBE Certification Find information to register for certification as a Minority, Woman, and/or Small Business Enterprise (MWSBE) with the City of Asheville. Business Inclusion The Business Inclusion Office for the City of Asheville actively seeks to identify minority and women-owned businesses for an opportunity to participate as providers of goods and services to the city. Apply for a commercial film or photography permit Information about commercial filming and photography work involving city-owned property, sidewalks, streets, and parks. Apply for a special event or festival permit Information about hosting an event on city-owned property, sidewalks, streets and parks. Find cold weather emergency shelter When extreme cold weather is expected, the Asheville Homeless Coalition issues a Code Purple Alert. Participating homeless shelters voluntarily add space beyond their normal capacity to keep as many people as possible out of the cold. To find out when Code Purple is in effect, visit the Homeless Coalition’s Code [...] Find financial support for your Asheville business Learn about financial support that may be available for your business. Find or register a minority, women or disabled-owned business Resources for finding or registering a minority, women or disabled-owned business. More Related Services Community and Economic Development News Asheville City Council votes to allocate $2 million toward Homeward Bound’s purchase of Days Inn for permanent supportive housing Posted on July 27, 2021 by Polly McDaniel In a continuing effort to partner with local agencies to mitigate the impacts of homelessness in our community the City of Asheville will help fund Homeward Bound’s acquisition of the Days Inn on Tunnel Road for permanent supportive housing for our homeless population. At their July 27 meeting, Asheville City Council approved a [...] Asheville City Council clears way for donation of 2 City-owned lots for affordable housing Posted on July 27, 2021July 29, 2021 by Polly McDaniel Two single-family lots will be donated to the Asheville Buncombe Community Land Trust so that the organization can build deeply affordable housing on them. The single family homes to be built on each lot will be permanently affordable to families at 60% and below the Area Median Income, at a target sales [...] An update on how the City of Asheville is addressing homelessness Posted on June 28, 2021June 28, 2021 by Angelica Driver Homelessness in Asheville has long been a serious and complex issue. The COVID-19 pandemic has both highlighted and heightened this reality. While the homeless service system we’ve had in Asheville has ended homelessness for a small number of people annually, it’s never had the resources to operate at a scale that will make homelessness truly [...] More Community and Economic Development News
MWSBE Certification Find information to register for certification as a Minority, Woman, and/or Small Business Enterprise (MWSBE) with the City of Asheville.
Business Inclusion The Business Inclusion Office for the City of Asheville actively seeks to identify minority and women-owned businesses for an opportunity to participate as providers of goods and services to the city.
Apply for a commercial film or photography permit Information about commercial filming and photography work involving city-owned property, sidewalks, streets, and parks.
Apply for a special event or festival permit Information about hosting an event on city-owned property, sidewalks, streets and parks.
Find cold weather emergency shelter When extreme cold weather is expected, the Asheville Homeless Coalition issues a Code Purple Alert. Participating homeless shelters voluntarily add space beyond their normal capacity to keep as many people as possible out of the cold. To find out when Code Purple is in effect, visit the Homeless Coalition’s Code [...]
Find financial support for your Asheville business Learn about financial support that may be available for your business.
Find or register a minority, women or disabled-owned business Resources for finding or registering a minority, women or disabled-owned business.
Asheville City Council votes to allocate $2 million toward Homeward Bound’s purchase of Days Inn for permanent supportive housing Posted on July 27, 2021 by Polly McDaniel In a continuing effort to partner with local agencies to mitigate the impacts of homelessness in our community the City of Asheville will help fund Homeward Bound’s acquisition of the Days Inn on Tunnel Road for permanent supportive housing for our homeless population. At their July 27 meeting, Asheville City Council approved a [...]
Asheville City Council clears way for donation of 2 City-owned lots for affordable housing Posted on July 27, 2021July 29, 2021 by Polly McDaniel Two single-family lots will be donated to the Asheville Buncombe Community Land Trust so that the organization can build deeply affordable housing on them. The single family homes to be built on each lot will be permanently affordable to families at 60% and below the Area Median Income, at a target sales [...]
An update on how the City of Asheville is addressing homelessness Posted on June 28, 2021June 28, 2021 by Angelica Driver Homelessness in Asheville has long been a serious and complex issue. The COVID-19 pandemic has both highlighted and heightened this reality. While the homeless service system we’ve had in Asheville has ended homelessness for a small number of people annually, it’s never had the resources to operate at a scale that will make homelessness truly [...]