Group of 434 businesses moves into pre-award phase
ASHEVILLE, N.C. — Oct. 30, 2026 — The Asheville Recovers Together Small Business Grants Program has begun notifying 434 small businesses that they have been recommended for grant awards. Grants range from $5,000 to $75,000, and are part of the City of Asheville’s Small Business Support Program for continued recovery from Hurricane Helene.
The application window closed July 14 with 771 applications submitted, collectively requesting more than $42.4 million in recovery funding. Applicants reported more than $117.3 million in physical damage from Helene and a combined loss of 655 jobs since the storm. They spanned a wide range of industries, including the arts, local retailers, restaurants and breweries, agriculture, and manufacturing.
“Every one of these applications represents a business owner who has been working to rebuild since Helene. Together, these applications show the breadth of need that remains,” said Matt Raker, Executive Director of Mountain BizWorks. Stephanie Swepson Twitty of Eagle Market Street Development Corporation agrees, “Getting the first award recommendations out is a real step forward, and we’re excited to put funds in the hands of entrepreneurs who need them.”
The businesses recommended in this group scored highest against program criteria. They now enter the pre-award phase, a standard step for federally funded recovery programs. During this phase, program staff work with each business to confirm its state business registration is current, document unmet need, check for duplication of benefits from other assistance programs, and finalize the jobs and expenses the grant will support.
Remaining applicants will be notified of their status by November 2 and moved into two groups:
- Applicants whose scores fell below the current funding cutoff will be moved to a waitlist. Their application will remain on file and may be funded in score order if resources allow.
- Applicants whose scores did not meet the minimum eligibility criteria or score threshold were declined.
“These award recommendations are an exciting milestone for Asheville’s small businesses and our community’s continued recovery,” said Katie Cornell, Executive Director of ArtsAVL. “We’re proud to partner with Mountain BizWorks and Eagle Market Streets to support businesses across sectors, building on ArtsAVL’s broader efforts to help our arts community recover and thrive.”
A full list of Asheville Recovers Together Small Business Grants Program awardees will be announced after all agreements are finalized. Applicants with questions about the review process can reach the Asheville Recovers Together team at grants@mountainbizworks.org.
About Asheville Recovers Together
Asheville Recovers Together is funded 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. The program is administered by ArtsAVL, Eagle Market Streets Development Corporation, and Mountain BizWorks.
