ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — The Asheville Merchants Fund of The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina has awarded $780,000 in grants to eight Buncombe County nonprofits to support economic development, workforce training and services aimed at strengthening families’ financial stability.
The April 2026 funding cycle provides multi-year grants focused on entrepreneurship, job creation and removing barriers to employment, according to the foundation.
Among the recipients, Western North Carolina Community Health Services will use $105,000 over three years to expand workforce training and credentialing programs designed to help employees move into higher-paying, in-demand health care roles.
“Western North Carolina Community Health Services is deeply grateful for this multi-year grant from the Asheville Merchants Fund, which allows us to invest in our people and strengthen the essential roles that make high-quality, whole-person care possible,” said Anita Case, Chief Executive Officer Anita Case said in a statement, adding the funding will expand access to critical services for vulnerable residents.
Other grants include:
- $105,000 over three years to Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project to support recovery and resilience among small farms and local food businesses.
- $105,000 to Asheville-Buncombe Community Christian Ministry to provide job training and education services for homeless women at Transformation Village.
- $75,000 to Children First/Communities in Schools of Buncombe County to expand free afterschool and summer programs for working families.
- $75,000 to IFB Solutions Asheville Division to grow job training programs for people who are blind or visually impaired.
- $105,000 to Irene Wortham Center to address shortages in specialized early childhood educators serving children with disabilities.
- $105,000 to Pisgah Legal Services to help low-income residents remove legal barriers to employment, including restoring driver’s licenses and expunging eligible records.
- $105,000 to Working Wheels to provide affordable car repairs for low-income workers.
Foundation officials said the grants are designed to strengthen “social infrastructure” that allows residents to participate fully in the workforce while supporting long-term economic growth in the region.
With this funding cycle, the Asheville Merchants Fund has extended its grant period to three years. The next application cycle is scheduled for 2029.
The foundation, established in 1978, manages more than 1,300 charitable funds and has facilitated over $456 million in grants and philanthropic investments across Western North Carolina.