Black Mountain/Swannanoa -- October 6, 2026: A new Federally Qualified Health Center planned for the Black Mountain and Swannanoa areas is moving forward, aiming to significantly enhance healthcare access for thousands in eastern Buncombe communities. The project is designed to fill a critical healthcare gap, particularly after a local medical practice in the same building closed in October 2025.
Buncombe County Commissioners were scheduled to consider acting as the local government sponsor for a state grant that will help fund the center. This unique funding model ensures that the vital service can be established without incurring project costs for local taxpayers, as the required local match is covered by Dogwood Health Trust.
Appalachian Mountain Health, also identified as Appalachian Mountain Community Health Center, will operate the new facility. The organization purchased an existing 8,740-square-foot building in Black Mountain in spring 2026. The planned integrated primary-care center will offer a range of services, including primary care, behavioral health, dental services, and pharmacy services, providing comprehensive care in one location.
The project received a $480,000 North Carolina Building Reuse grant, approved by the North Carolina Rural Infrastructure Authority. For this grant, a 5% nonstate, nonfederal match totaling $24,000 is required. Dogwood Health Trust committed to provide this match, meaning the proposal would come at no cost to Buncombe County. The commissioners' proposed action was specifically to authorize the county manager to work with Appalachian Mountain Health, participate in the state Building Reuse Program, and act as the local government sponsor for the grant, rather than approving or operating the health center itself.
This initiative is expected to create 48 jobs and generate approximately $14.6 million in private investment within Buncombe County. The Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) model is designed to serve medically underserved populations, offering comprehensive care regardless of a patient's ability to pay. While the facility is described as an FQHC, federal FQHC designation and a federal operating start date have not yet been finalized in available reports.
Renovation and development of the facility are still ahead, and a specific completion or opening date has not been announced. In addition to Dogwood Health Trust's commitment for the grant match, the Black Mountain–Swannanoa Valley Endowment Fund, in partnership with the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina, also reported a $7,500 grant to Appalachian Mountain Community Health Center to support the acquisition and development of the medical facility.
AI-generated illustration representing expanded healthcare access in the Black Mountain–Swannanoa area. This image does not depict the actual planned facility.