The 2025 Local Business Impact Survey found 93% of small businesses have reopened post-Helene, but needs are emerging around flexible capital, lack of commercial real estate, revenue recovery, and infrastructure restoration. This year marks the 10th anniversary of Mountain BizWorks’ Local Business Impact Survey (LBIS). That’s 3,580 entrepreneurs making their voices heard through their daily…
Last week at a celebratory kick-off, Mountain BizWorks, along with partners Made by Mountains, the Outdoor Business Alliance of WNC and the NC Outdoor Economy Office, welcomed 20 entrepreneurs into the Waypoint Resilience Cohort. The program aims to help outdoor industry businesses rebuild from Helene, problem-solve with peers and experts, and chart a course for…
Mountain BizWorks’ Rural Rebuilding Together Grant Fund has provided $2,391,295 in grant funding to 149 small businesses in 15 heavily hurricane-impacted rural downtowns. Because a thriving downtown benefits the entire community, small businesses in Bakersville, Banner Elk, Beech Mountain, Canton, Chimney Rock, Hot Springs, Lake Lure, Lansing, Marshall, Newland, Old Fort, South Toe, Spruce Pine,…
Mountain BizWorks is pleased to announce two new awards that will support additional grants for businesses impacted by Hurricane Helene. The Truist Foundation Western NC Recovery and Resiliency Fund grant from the Center for Disaster Philanthropy (CDP) and an award from the Soulshine Concert Fund will allow Mountain BizWorks to distribute an additional $1 million…
Mountain BizWorks is pleased to welcome 14 high-potential small businesses selected for the 13th cohort of the ScaleUp WNC program. The program will begin with a kick-off event on April 17, showcasing companies across a wide range of industries, including construction, fitness, healthcare, food, and creative sectors. Through ScaleUp, the companies will receive intensive growth-management training,…
Mountain BizWorks has announced the first round of awards from the Asheville-Buncombe Rebuilding Together Grant Fund, supporting 276 small businesses with $3.69 million in grant funding. These grants are made possible by a community collaborative of funders and partners working to support local businesses through the Helene disaster. Applicants to this grant program alone reported…
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