Fresh disaster relief funding is on the way for the Asheville small business community. The $14.6M Asheville Recovers Together Small Business Grant Program will invest in recovery for eligible, Helene-impacted businesses to help them more fully recover and bring jobs back to the City. Applications will be accepted from June 15, 2026 at noon through July 14, 2026 at noon, and all are invited to a public kick-off event on June 11 at 9:30 a.m. at the YMI Cultural Center.
Funding for Asheville Recovers Together is provided by the City of Asheville through Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The City developed the program through its CDBG-DR Action Plan after a three-month public input process, with the Asheville City Council’s approval of $15.5M for the Small Business Support Program.
“It has been a long road for many Asheville businesses since the storm, and these grants will provide meaningful support to help businesses continue to recover and rebuild,” said Mayor Esther Manheimer. “This program is an important investment in Asheville’s economic recovery, and we are grateful to the partners who helped make this effort possible for the small businesses and entrepreneurs that help define our community.”
“Asheville’s small businesses are the backbone of our community. They create jobs, drive our local economy, and give the City its character,” said Matt Raker, Executive Director of Mountain BizWorks. “The Asheville Recovers Together Small Business Grant Program represents a major investment in ensuring that our small businesses can stabilize, recover, and grow.”
To be eligible, businesses must have:
- A principal business location within Asheville city limits
- Been operating prior to September 27, 2024
- Unmet financial losses from Helene after insurance and other relief funding
Grant awards will range from $5,000 to $75,000. Award decisions will be based on factors including the extent of physical storm damage, loss of revenue, insurance and other funding already received, and the number of jobs a business is expected to retain or create. The program is administered through a collaborative partnership designed to ensure funding reaches those who need it most.
“Partnerships are the heartbeat of our community,” said Stephanie Swepson-Twitty, President and CEO of Eagle Market Streets Development Corporation. “By bringing our organizational strengths together, we are creating a coordinated recovery effort focused on accountability and long-term impact.”
To ensure businesses can prepare their materials in order to submit a full application, Asheville Recovers Together offers free one-on-one technical assistance through the following partners:
- AB Tech Community College Small Business Center
- Small Business and Technology Development Center (SBTDC)
- Western Women’s Business Center
- YMI Cultural Center
In addition, a comprehensive lineup of Outreach Support Partners will ensure eligible businesses, regardless of neighborhood or industry, hear about this vital program:
- Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce
- Asheville Brewers Alliance
- Asheville Downtown Association
- Asheville Independent Restaurant Association
- Explore Asheville
- Go Local Asheville
- Historic Biltmore Village Association
- RADBiz
- The People’s Place AVL
- UNETE
- West Asheville Business Association
“The range of organizations involved in Asheville Recovers Together reflects how broadly Helene impacted Asheville’s small business community,” said Katie Cornell, Executive Director of ArtsAVL. “Arts and creative businesses were among the sectors hardest hit by the storm, and many have faced challenges accessing traditional recovery support. We’re proud to help ensure creative businesses can connect to these resources and continue rebuilding.”
Application preview, eligibility information, and one-on-one application assistance are available now. The application opens at noon on June 15 and closes at noon on July 14. All are invited to attend a public kick-off event June 11 at 9:30 a.m. at the YMI Cultural Center. More information is available at ashevillerecoverstogether.org.
