The Asheville City Council has approved $15.5 million in funding for the Small Business Support Program (SBSP), aiming to help local businesses recover from the impact of Tropical Storm Helene. The funding comes from the Community Development Block Grant–Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) program.
“This funding is a critical step in helping Asheville’s small business sector recover for the long-term,” said CDBG-DR Program Manager Elma King. “We are grateful to be able to allocate these resources to trusted community partners who are deeply connected to local businesses, versed in regulatory compliance, and can deliver support quickly and effectively. Together, this investment will help strengthen and diversify our local economy and support the long-term resilience of Asheville’s small business community.”
Four organizations were chosen through a competitive application process to receive grants:
– Mountain BizWorks: $10 million
– ArtsAVL: $2,322,500
– Eagle Market Streets: $2,322,500
– Venture Asheville: $855,000
These groups will use the funds to set up grant programs that provide accessible assistance to small businesses affected by Helene while meeting federal requirements.
Following council approval, the city will work with each organization on compliance measures and finalize agreements before launching outreach and application processes for eligible businesses. More details about program launches will be announced as they become available.
For further information about the Small Business Support Program or Asheville’s CDBG-DR efforts, visit https://ashevillerecovers.org/cdbg-dr.
