ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Business owners with damaged buildings are being asked to consider local contractors first when planning repairs.

“Build local,” urged Commercial Building Alliance founder Claire Counts, whose new organization is offering free disaster assessments to local businesses.

The Commercial Building Alliance, as described by Counts, exists to “provide a resource for everyone who needs to rebuild … [and] combat out-of-town contractors” from taking rebuilding jobs from Ashevillians. “Keep the wealth in Asheville,” she said.

The website explained the protectionist sentiment further.

“By hiring local, we can keep the wealth circulating within Asheville, allowing us to rebuild not just our businesses but also the hardest-hit areas — those that have supported us, and which we will continue to support in turn,” the website said.

With a background in interior and commercial design, Counts wants to “encourage building locally as a trend.”

But, as Counts said, “the first step is awareness.”

That’s where Commercial Building Alliance comes in.

“We need all the smart people in the same room,” Counts said, explaining why she started the alliance. “There’s a lot of talent here.”

The room Counts created for these businesses to interact in is not a physical room, but rather a digital one.

The Commercial Building Alliance website acts as an online networking platform for local businesses.

“Our mission at Commercial Building Alliance is to strengthen Asheville’s economy by connecting local businesses with trusted contractors, architects, consultants and specialty groups,” the Commercial Building Alliance website said. “Together, we aim to create resilient, sustainable spaces that reflect the spirit and strength of our city.”

Counts has already recruited about 40 businesses into her coalition. “As many as we can,” she said. “It’s open to everyone in the community.”

Builders of many varieties can be found in the website’s directory, offering most construction services businesses in Asheville need to reopen.

The Asheville Chamber of Commerce and Mountain BizWorks have already begun partnering with the Commercial Building Alliance. Launched less than two months ago, the organization hopes to receive grants soon to increase its ability to connect Asheville’s builders to businesses in need of its services.

“Right now, we’re just in the beginning stages of making assessments,” Counts explained. “We built this city. Let’s keep building it.”