What we do Last updated or reviewed on March 21, 2023 The Community and Economic Development department fosters an equitable community and economy. We work to preserve and increase the availability of affordable housing, improve access to services, create paths toward economic mobility, promote resiliency, and support sustainable growth. We collaborate with community partners, other government agencies, businesses, and residents to enhance the quality of life and availability of opportunities for all in Asheville. The department includes four divisions, Affordable Housing, Community Development, Homeless Strategy, and Economic Development; and three programs, Business Inclusion Office, City of Asheville Youth Leadership Academy (CAYLA), and City Real Estate Office. The department’s success is measured through the lens of the City’s comprehensive plan and vision, focusing on creating a resilient and thriving local economy, fostering an equitable and diverse community, preserving and developing quality affordable housing, and engaging in responsible regionalism. Contact: Promise Boseman, Business Services Administrator. Attention: HOME ARP Public comment period closed Monday, March 20, 2023 for more information please vist our Public Notices webpage here. Connect Address 70 Court Plaza, Asheville, NC 28801 Mailing Address PO Box 7148 Phone Number 828-232-4505 Email Address pboseman@ashevillenc.gov Business HoursMonday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.DirectorNikki Reid, nreid@ashevillenc.govBusiness Services AdministratorPromise Boseman, pboseman@ashevillenc.govAdditional LinksStaff Directory Related Services Find support for issues related to homelessness The goal of this page is to provide information and resources for residents and businesses to understand how to respond to issues related to homelessness. Minority / Woman Business Enterprise (MWBE) Certification Find information to register for certification as a Minority, Woman, and/or Small Business Enterprise (MWSBE) with the City of Asheville. Business Inclusion (ABI) 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. 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. 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. Explore Related ServicesRelated Projects HOME-ARP Program Funding Happening Now The City of Asheville has prepared the Allocation Plan for the HOME Investment Partnerships American Rescue Plan (HOME-ARP) Program. The final Allocation Plan is posted at this link. The HOME-ARP Allocation Plan sets out how the City of Asheville and the Asheville Regional Housing Consortium propose to use an estimated $4,699,862 in [...] Disparity Study 2022 The City of Asheville’s Community and Economic Development Department has commissioned Miller3 Consulting, Inc. to conduct a five year comprehensive Disparity Study of its contractual awards in goods, professional and general services, and construction. Understanding Unsheltered Homelessness Early in 2022, the City of Asheville, Buncombe County, and Dogwood Health Trust formed a collaborative to respond to the increased need, and Dogwood Health Trust offered to fund a consultancy to bring national expertise to the local community to better understand and address the crisis of unsheltered homelessness. The City is serving as the contracting point of contact for this collaborative, and published a Request for Proposals in February 2022 on behalf of the group. Explore Related ProjectsCommunity and Economic Development News City of Asheville announces new Division Manager for Community Development, Dennis Newburn Posted on May 15, 2023 by Kim Miller The City of Asheville welcomes Dennis Newburn to its Community and Economic Development department. Newburn will serve as Community Development Division Manager and manage the HOME and Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Programs. He brings extensive experience in the areas of program administration, project management, contract compliance, program monitoring, and community planning. Newburn comes to Asheville [...] Annual Point-In-Time Count data indicates homelessness in Asheville on a slight decline Posted on May 10, 2023 by Kim Miller The 2023 Point-in-Time (PIT) results were submitted to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) on April 28 as part of Asheville’s Continum of Care designation. The annual count was conducted on January 31, 2023, with the help of 75 volunteers, the largest number of volunteers to date. Emily Ball, Homeless Strategy Division Manager [...] City Council approves submission of Annual Action Plan to support affordable housing, economic development and more Posted on May 10, 2023 by Christy Edwards On February 28, 2023, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) released the 2023-2024 formula allocations for the Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnership programs. With Council’s approval on May 9, the City’s FY 23-24 Annual Action Plan can now be submitted to HUD. CDBG and HOME are federal [...] Explore Community and Economic Development News
Find support for issues related to homelessness The goal of this page is to provide information and resources for residents and businesses to understand how to respond to issues related to homelessness.
Minority / Woman Business Enterprise (MWBE) Certification Find information to register for certification as a Minority, Woman, and/or Small Business Enterprise (MWSBE) with the City of Asheville.
Business Inclusion (ABI) 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.
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.
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.
HOME-ARP Program Funding Happening Now The City of Asheville has prepared the Allocation Plan for the HOME Investment Partnerships American Rescue Plan (HOME-ARP) Program. The final Allocation Plan is posted at this link. The HOME-ARP Allocation Plan sets out how the City of Asheville and the Asheville Regional Housing Consortium propose to use an estimated $4,699,862 in [...]
Disparity Study 2022 The City of Asheville’s Community and Economic Development Department has commissioned Miller3 Consulting, Inc. to conduct a five year comprehensive Disparity Study of its contractual awards in goods, professional and general services, and construction.
Understanding Unsheltered Homelessness Early in 2022, the City of Asheville, Buncombe County, and Dogwood Health Trust formed a collaborative to respond to the increased need, and Dogwood Health Trust offered to fund a consultancy to bring national expertise to the local community to better understand and address the crisis of unsheltered homelessness. The City is serving as the contracting point of contact for this collaborative, and published a Request for Proposals in February 2022 on behalf of the group.
City of Asheville announces new Division Manager for Community Development, Dennis Newburn Posted on May 15, 2023 by Kim Miller The City of Asheville welcomes Dennis Newburn to its Community and Economic Development department. Newburn will serve as Community Development Division Manager and manage the HOME and Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Programs. He brings extensive experience in the areas of program administration, project management, contract compliance, program monitoring, and community planning. Newburn comes to Asheville [...]
Annual Point-In-Time Count data indicates homelessness in Asheville on a slight decline Posted on May 10, 2023 by Kim Miller The 2023 Point-in-Time (PIT) results were submitted to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) on April 28 as part of Asheville’s Continum of Care designation. The annual count was conducted on January 31, 2023, with the help of 75 volunteers, the largest number of volunteers to date. Emily Ball, Homeless Strategy Division Manager [...]
City Council approves submission of Annual Action Plan to support affordable housing, economic development and more Posted on May 10, 2023 by Christy Edwards On February 28, 2023, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) released the 2023-2024 formula allocations for the Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnership programs. With Council’s approval on May 9, the City’s FY 23-24 Annual Action Plan can now be submitted to HUD. CDBG and HOME are federal [...]