In an important next step for small business recovery following Tropical Storm Helene, the Asheville City Council approved a $15.5 million funding recommendation on Tuesday, January 27, to support the City’s Small Business Support Program (SBSP), funded through the Community Development Block Grant–Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) program.
“This funding is a critical step in helping Asheville’s small business sector recover for the long-term,” said CDBG-DR Program Manager Elma King. “We are grateful to be able to allocate these resources to trusted community partners who are deeply connected to local businesses, versed in regulatory compliance, and can deliver support quickly and effectively. Together, this investment will help strengthen and diversify our local economy and support the long-term resilience of Asheville’s small business community.”
Following a competitive application process, four organizations were selected to receive funding to support Asheville’s small business community:
|
Subrecipient |
Award Amount |
|
Mountain BizWorks |
$10 million |
|
ArtsAVL |
$2,322,500 |
|
Eagle Market Streets |
$2,322,500 |
|
Venture Asheville |
$855,000 |
These partners will establish grant programs designed to provide rapid, responsive, and accessible support to small businesses impacted by Helene, while ensuring compliance with federal requirements.
Next steps
Following Council’s action, the City will work with each partner to complete all foundational compliance requirements, finalize funding agreements, and confirm program design. Once agreements are signed, the partners and their grant programs will begin outreach and application processes for eligible small businesses. Additional details will be shared publicly as programs launch.
For more information on the Small Business Support Program and to learn more about the City of Asheville’s CDBG-DR program, visit ashevillerecovers.org/cdbg-dr. You can sign up to receive email updates via our public engagement platform.