This April, the City of Asheville Business Inclusion Office will conduct three free training sessions to help local businesses learn how to work on local government contracts. These training sessions will be facilitated by the A-B Tech Small Business Center and take place from April 13-15. Training 1: Is Doing Business with Government Right for My [...]
In March, City of Asheville staff will once again engage neighborhoods in the development of three small neighborhood lots on West Chestnut Street, Lufty Avenue, and Kentucky Drive for affordable housing. Several weeks ago, finalists were named for the Neighborhood Lots for Affordable Housing Request for Proposals (RFP) process to develop the lots. The finalists are [...]
The City of Asheville will use funding support from Dogwood Health Trust to support people experiencing homelessness. At their Feb. 23 meeting, City Council voted to add the $50,000 donation for Code Purple shelter funding. Code Purple is a longstanding practice where homeless shelter providers exceed regular capacity and waive regular rules on nights when the [...]
Applications are now open for the CAYLA program. The City of Asheville Youth Leadership Academy (CAYLA) recruits, trains, and places eligible high school sophomores and juniors in paid summer internships that provide exposure to 21st century job skills. Each summer, teens from across the City and County come together to learn and earn valuable job experience [...]
After 16 years as Asheville Community and Economic Development Director, Sam Powers will retire in April. Please join us in congratulating Powers on this 16 years of service to the City of Asheville. Powers has worked in the Community and Economic Development field for a total of 43 years. “Retirement was a difficult decision to reach, [...]
The Department of Community and Economic Development would like to hear from community members about future development on Asheland Avenue. The Haywood Street Congregation proposes to develop affordable housing on a lot currently owned by the City of Asheville. This project supports the City’s initiative to focus on City-owned lots for the building of affordable [...]
Recognizing the additional threat of harm posed by COVID-19 to already vulnerable unsheltered residents, the City of Asheville has taken proactive measures to provide socially distanced emergency shelter to people experiencing homelessness during the pandemic. Initially, the City provided temporary shelter to people experiencing unsheltered homelessness who are at increased risk for COVID-19 because of age [...]
As a memorial to remember and honor the lives lost to COVID-19, the City of Asheville will join with cities and towns across the country tonight, Jan. 19, with a special lighting of Asheville City Hall and the Harrah’s Cherokee Center Asheville. The Presidential Inaugural Committee has invited cities and towns around [...]
To help reduce economic hardship posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the City of Asheville will continue to waive or suspend collection of fees on a case-by-case basis. Asheville City Council approved this action during their Jan. 12 meeting. The fees that may be waived include temporary uses, outdoor dining, a-frame signage, push carts, and associated trade permits. Many [...]
Virtual assistance available for applicants The City of Asheville’s Community Development (CD) Department is now accepting applications for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME, “Home Investment Partnerships Program” program. The deadline for applications is 5 p.m Feb. 5, 2021. Community Development Staff is happy to offer virtual assistance during the month of January (from Jan. [...]
In response to the pandemic, earlier this year the City of Asheville created its AVL Shares Space outdoor expansion initiatives to support safe business operations and customer access in alignment with public health COVID-19 guidelines. Launched in spring 2020, its initial trial period was extended from Oct. [...]
With temperatures going down into the 20s this week, the Asheville-Buncombe Homeless Coalition has called a Code Purple for people who need shelter. Starting Dec. 1, shelter was made available at First Congregational UCC, 20 Oak St., for about 30 men and up to 20 women and children. This is in partnership with Western Carolina Rescue [...]
The City of Asheville’s Community and Economic Development (CED) Department has published the Draft Consolidated Annual Performance & Evaluation Report (CAPER) on the City website for public comment. The City’s Community Development Division within CED reports on accomplishments and progress towards the Consolidated Plan and Annual Action Plan goals in the CAPER. The [...]
More businesses and organizations are operating outdoors this year, due to COVID-19. The City of Asheville reminds those with outdoor areas to do their part to operate safely. Beyond wearing a mask and other public health measures, businesses that choose to operate outdoors must follow all building and fire-safety codes while using equipment like heaters [...]
With temperatures going down into the 20s this week, the Asheville-Buncombe Homeless Coalition has called a Code Purple for people who need shelter. Starting Dec. 1, shelter will be available at First Congregational UCC, 20 Oak St., for about 30 men and up to 20 women and children. This is in partnership with Western Carolina Rescue [...]
The City of Asheville is happy to announce the completion of the Haywood Streetscape and Infrastructure Improvement project, which features expanded public sidewalk space and improved pedestrian access and amenities. The project, which took 10 months of construction, included sewer and water line upgrades in the Haywood Street vicinity (including College Street, Walnut Street and Rankin [...]
After more than a year of community engagement and study, the City of Asheville Department of Community and Economic Development is ready to release the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) 5-Year Consolidated Plan. Still in final draft form, the Consolidated Plan is designed to help states and local jurisdictions assess their affordable housing [...]