ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — The city of Asheville’s Community and Economic Development team has announced a forthcoming Notice of Funding Opportunity for a small business grant program for Asheville businesses impacted by Hurricane Helene.

The NOFO is for the Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery, or CDBG-DR, Small Business Support Program.

“This program provides funding for organizations assisting small businesses impacted by Tropical Storm Helene, promoting economic recovery and resilience. At this time, the City is currently seeking organizations and non-profit partners to administer the small business grant program funds to businesses in the community,” city communications specialist Kim Miller wrote in a press release.

NOFO overview

The NOFO will allow for up to $15.5 million in federal CDBG-DR funds to be awarded inside of the $17 million Small Business Support Program. The $15.5 million in available funding has been calculated by removing a 3% mitigation set-aside and administering costs for the city and contractors.

Award amounts for qualified subrecipients will be between $250,000 and $10 million. Subrecipients will then use the award to provide financial assistance to eligible impacted businesses.

“The Program is designed to restore and revitalize Asheville’s small business sector, which serves as a foundational pillar of the economy,” Miller wrote.

Find the full NOFO and Small Business Support Program Manual at the Small Business Support Program web page.

Application requirements

Proposals, at a minimum, must include the following information:

• Applicant and organization details
• Project title and detailed description of eligible activities
• Project timeline and budget
• Performance targets including number of businesses assisted and jobs created or retained
• Qualifications and experience of proposed staff
• Systems for tracking and documentation of outcomes

Eligible subrecipients must comply with all federal regulations and program-specific eligibility requirements. For additional guidance on application submission, please refer to the NOFO guide.

Application timeline

The program application and award process will follow these key dates:

• NOFO Release and Advertisement: Friday, Oct. 31, 2025
• Mandatory Pre-Proposal Conference: Monday, Nov. 10, 2025
• Deadline for Notice of Intent: 5 p.m., Friday, Nov. 14, 2025
  • Notice of Intent must be submitted by email to CDBG-DR@ashevillenc.gov.
• Deadline for Submission of Questions: 5 p.m., Friday, Nov.14, 2025
  • Questions must be submitted by email to CDBG-DR@ashevillenc.gov.
• Responses to Questions: Anticipated Friday, Nov. 21, 2025.
  • The city will release an addendum to the NOFO containing all compiled questions and responses.
• Proposal Submission Deadline: 5 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 02, 2025
  • Proposals must be submitted by email to CDBG-DR@ashevillenc.gov.
• Announcement of Awards: Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026

Contact Information

To submit a Notice of Intent, Questions, and Proposals, please email CDBG-DR@ashevillenc.gov.