The Buncombe County Board of Commissioners met on February 3, 2026, to discuss several community initiatives and hear updates from county departments.
During the meeting, commissioners authorized a resolution for the County Manager to submit multiple grant applications supporting the Swannanoa Sidewalks Project. The Board approved two resolutions allowing applications to the North Carolina Department of Commerce’s Rural Division Small Business Infrastructure Grant Program. These grants would support repairs and extensions of sidewalks in Beacon Village as part of recovery efforts following Tropical Storm Helene. Each application has a $1 million project cap, with a total award cap of $5.5 million per county.
A public hearing was held regarding participation in the North Carolina Commercial Property Assessed Capital Expenditure (NC C-PACE) Program. This statewide program provides financing for commercial property owners to fund improvements such as energy efficiency, water conservation, renewable energy, and resiliency upgrades. After the hearing, commissioners voted to approve joining NC C-PACE.
Buncombe County Emergency Services updated the Board on response efforts during Winter Storm Fern. More than 100 county staff worked through the storm weekend to shelter over 80 residents in emergency shelters. Staff also provided information about Code Purple operations, which expand shelter capacity during periods of dangerously low temperatures by coordinating services between city and county staff.
Commissioners adopted a proclamation recognizing Black Legacy Month for 2026. The proclamation acknowledges the history, culture, and contributions of Black residents in Buncombe County.
In education news related to Buncombe County schools: In the 2022-23 school year, about 28.5% of senior students taking the science portion of the ACT were considered ready for college; among juniors it was about 30.1%. For reading readiness on the ACT, approximately 41.1% of seniors and 43.2% of juniors met college-ready benchmarks. Math readiness rates were lower: around 25.6% for seniors and about 32.7% for juniors (https://www.dpi.nc.gov/).
The next regular meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, February 17, 2026.
