City of Asheville -- January 27, 2026: Asheville City Council has approved $15.5 million in grants to support small businesses struggling to recover from Tropical Storm Helene. The funding, stemming from Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funds, aims to address gaps in recovery efforts where insurance and other relief programs fell short.
Funding Allocation
The grants will be distributed through the Small Business Support Program (SBSP) via four partner organizations:
Mountain BizWorks: $10 million
ArtsAVL: $2.32 million ($2,322,500)
Eagle Market Streets: $2.32 million ($2,322,500)
Venture Asheville: $855,000
The funds are intended to support repairs, cash flow, and business operations for those affected by the storm. These partner organizations were selected through a competitive process to ensure maximum outreach and impact.
Broader Recovery Efforts
This approval is part of a larger recovery strategy. In addition to small business support, the City is also moving forward with a $3 million partnership for a Single-Family Home Repair Program, utilizing CDBG-DR funds to assist residents with property restoration.
A survey conducted by Riverbird Research in late 2025 highlighted the urgency of these funds, noting that while the majority of businesses are not at risk of immediate closure, many—especially in the hospitality sector—are still struggling to return to profitability.
Next Steps
The next steps involve finalizing agreements with the partner organizations, launching outreach programs, and opening the application portal.
WNCTimes
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