Throughout 2025, Western North Carolina continued the long journey of recovery from Hurricane Helene. The region’s small businesses met the moment with durability, creativity, and grit, and Mountain BizWorks was right there alongside them. From deploying millions in recovery capital to launching long-term programs, 2025 was a year of deepened commitment to WNC entrepreneurs. Now,…
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…
Today, Mountain BizWorks released the 2024–2025 Impact Report for its WNC Strong: Helene Business Recovery Fund. It offers an in-depth look at how $59.6 million in rapid, flexible capital protected 7,069 jobs and reached 852 businesses across 29 Western North Carolina counties. The WNC Strong: Helene Business Recovery Fund launched October 7, 2024, just 10…
A few weeks ago, a talented cohort of Western North Carolina artists packed up their work and made the trip to American Craft Made Baltimore, the largest juried art fair on the East Coast. Representing the Western North Carolina and the Craft Your Commerce program, these makers took the creative spirit of our region to…
Mountain BizWorks is pleased to welcome 13 high-potential small businesses selected for the 14th ScaleUp WNC Cohort. The program began with a kick-off event on March 13, showcasing companies across a wide range of industries, including cleaning services, food and beverage, fiber arts, technology, landscape design, and creative sectors. Through ScaleUp, the companies will receive…
Mountain BizWorks is launching the Business Buyer Accelerator, an eight-week program designed to help qualified entrepreneurs purchase and take over existing local businesses. The pilot cohort begins April 23, 2026, and applications are due March 30. The program comes at a critical moment for the region’s small business landscape. Baby Boomer owners are preparing for…
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