Grants for BUNCOMBE businesses
Asheville-Buncombe Rebuilding Together Grant Fund
Businesses located within Buncombe County may request up to $25,000 in reimbursement for costs associated with Hurricane Helene.
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The Asheville-Buncombe Rebuilding Together Grant Fund is designed to provide direct grant awards to small businesses in the City of Asheville and Buncombe County that have been severely impacted by Hurricane Helene. Businesses may apply for a grant up to $25,000 to support recovery expenses not covered by insurance or other funding sources.
Awardees must be able to provide receipts or other documentation for all expenses, and grants will generally be disbursed on a reimbursement basis unless there is a clear need for a funding advance. The grants will support a range of costs to help rebuild and reopen such as clean-up, replacing lost inventory, temporary water solutions, payroll, and more. The Fund aims to help rebuild and restore the region’s unique and diverse local business community and retain & re-hire the talented people who work at these businesses.
The Fund is supported by a collaborative of public and private partners that are committed to helping our local businesses recover. Initial funding exceeds $1.3 million and has been provided by City of Asheville ($704,070), and the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce ($500,000) and Mountain BizWorks ($125,000) fundraising efforts which include many contributors from WNC and beyond. The partners recognize the need far surpasses the initial funding level and each are working to secure additional support.
There is no annual revenue threshold for this grant but businesses must have no more than 200 employees. Full eligibility criteria are available below. Priority will be given to the most impacted areas and companies, and will prioritize independent small business owners who lack access to other available funding resources. Awards are expected to be distributed in multiple rounds.
Any reasonable and necessary expense to support the business’s recovery and reopening, including but not limited to:
- Purchases of potable water, and the installation and maintenance of temporary water systems
- Repair and replacement* of business property such as:
- Inventory
- Business materials and supplies/ingredients
- Furniture and fixtures
- Cleaning activities, including but not limited to: cleaning services, mold remediation, mud removal, removal of debris to curb, and personal protective equipment
- Employee retention and hiring
- Signage and façades
- Working Capital, including but not limited to: operating expenses, payroll, insurance premiums, supplies, marketing, business-specific rents or mortgages,
- Business services, including legal, accounting, HR, etc.
- Repair and replacement of business equipment**
- Repair and replacement of business infrastructure***, such as:
- Buildings
- Building systems (electrical, HVAC, plumbing, etc.)
- Hardscaping and landscaping
* Repair and replacement costs are intended to restore things to a state substantially similar to what they were before the disaster
** Equipment purchases in excess of $5,000 per item may require monitoring for five years from the date of purchase.
*** IMPORTANT: Grants for infrastructure repairs, construction, rehabilitation, and/or acquisition require a documented environmental review before construction begins, and all contracted labor must comply with federal Davis-Bacon regulations (unless excluded under 24 CFR § 58.35). These standards must be confirmed and approved by the City of Asheville before the activity begins.
- Level of impact:
- Severity of physical damage
- Severity of economic injury
- Jobs retained, re-hired, and/or created
- Businesses that were financially sound pre-Helene and have a viable reopening plan
- Business longevity
- Underserved entrepreneurs:
- Women-owned businesses
- Businesses owned by people of color
- Veteran-owned businesses
- Low-to-Moderate Income individuals and communities
Apply by November 27
FAQ
- LLCs and For-Profit Corporations
- Sole proprietorships, including home businesses, and independent contractors are eligible
- For lodging-category businesses: business must be offering traditional overnight guest lodging housed on commercial property. Short Term Rentals are not eligible
- Owners of commercial properties which are leased to independent businesses and were impacted by Tropical Storm Helene are eligible to apply
- Businesses whose losses are fully covered by insurance, FEMA, SBA EIDL loans, and/or prior grants.
- Non-profit organizations.
- Businesses which have greater than 200 FTEs.
- Residential property rental businesses including AirBnbs or other short term rentals as well as long-term housing rentals.
- Businesses with any active bankruptcies or tax liens.
- Businesses that have been debarred from receiving federal funds or are the subject of unresolved findings of noncompliance relating to previous CDBG assistance.
Applications will be accepted until 11:59 pm on Wednesday, November 27th.
Priority will be given to the most impacted areas and companies, and will prioritize independent small business owners who lack access to traditional funding resources. The application process will be equity-focused, and funds will be distributed in multiple rounds.
Funds can be used for any reasonable and necessary expense to support business recovery and reopening which is not covered by insurance or other relief aid, and for which the business owner can provide proof of payment. See the Acceptable Use of Funds list for details.
- Non-business expenses including personal expenses for owners or employees
- Payment of personal debts or taxes
- Payments on vehicles not utilized regularly for business purposes
- Personal enrichment
- Financial securities and cryptocurrencies
- Expenses associated with moving the business outside of the City or County
- Lobbying or political contributions
- Donations to nonprofit organizations
- Anything illegal according to the laws of North Carolina, the United States of America, or the jurisdiction(s) in which the business is located and operates
We are making every effort to get these funds out to small businesses as quickly as possible. The first round will open for applications on November 13, 2024, with applications due no later than 11:59pm on Wednesday, 11/27, so that Mountain BizWorks’ staff and partners can review applications and responsibly allocate donated funds in time for small businesses to receive their awards no later than December 13.
Please note that certain expense categories will require more due diligence and regulatory compliance. Grantees should be aware that expenses in these categories will likely take longer to reimburse.
- Physical Damage refers to tangible losses to your business property due to the disaster, including damage to buildings, equipment, furnishings, and products. Examples include losses from flooding, power outages, or contamination caused by Hurricane Helene.
- Economic Injury refers to financial losses resulting from the disaster, such as lost customers, decreased sales, and reduced revenue. This includes income loss during typically busy periods, affecting your ability to sustain the business afterward.
Yes. We have weekly webinars to help with questions, and soon you will be able schedule an appointment with a business coach who can help you complete your application. For more information on webinars, click here. Email grants@mountainbizworks.org for additional questions in the meantime.
A UEI, or Unique Entity Identifier, is a number that the federal government uses to track organizations that receive federal funding or contracts. Because the funding for this grant program is coming from a federal source, we must require that grant recipients have one. You are not required to have a UEI to apply, but you will need one if you are awarded funding, so we recommend registering as soon as possible. Click here to start the process.
- In calculating full-time equivalent (FTE) employees, each full-time position shall count as 1 FTE and each part-time position shall count as ½ FTE. For example, a business with 5 full-time positions and 4 part-time positions would be 7 FTE.
- Owners who are actively working in the business do count as employees for the purposes of determining FTEs; passive owners and independent contractors do not.
There is no minimum or maximum annual revenue requirement to apply for this grant.
Unfortunately, no, you must submit a separate application to the grant program to be considered.
Yes, if your business has applied for and received assistance from the SBA, insurance, FEMA or other sources, you must specify the amount and intended uses of those funds to ensure they do not overlap with the planned uses of the fund. Grant recipients must also agree to repay any funds if duplicate assistance is identified.
Yes, you may apply for this grant if you meet eligibility requirements.
No, there is no requirement that a business apply for any loans in order to be eligible for grant funding.
- Agree to submit two reports about the impact of the grant on the business, by May 30th, 2025 and by May 30th 2026. The applicant must agree to report on the financial condition of the business, jobs retained and hired, and use of funds following the receipt of a grant. Submission guidelines will be provided at time of award.
- Agree to Award Announcement: Applicant understands and agrees that all grantee business names and grant amounts may be publicly announced.
- Submits a full and complete application including all required attachments prior to the application deadline.
- Grant funds are taxable: Grant funds are considered taxable income. The recipient is responsible for reporting the grant funds on their taxes in accordance with applicable tax laws.
Please email grants@mountainbizworks.org to report technical issues.
Questions or Need Assistance?
Get in touch with our team. Email grants@mountainbizworks.org or call 828-701-1525.
Grant Timeline
- Application opens Nov. 13
- Application closes Nov. 27
- Awards announced by Dec. 13
Eligibility:
- For-Profit businesses located within Buncombe County
- Have Hurricane Helene-related losses not fully covered by insurance or other assistance.
- Can provide receipts or other proof of payment for expenses.
- No more than 200 Full-Time Equivalent Employees as of 9/27/24.
- Agree to submit required reports.
- Agree to Award Announcement.
- Submits a full and complete application.
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