ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Local business owners and city leaders gathered today to announce the launch of Asheville Recovers Together, a $14.6 million grant program intended to assist Asheville entrepreneurs with rebuilding after Tropical Storm Helene.

The program will offer qualifying businesses anywhere from $5,000 to $75,000 in reimbursement money, helping small businesses pay for expenses accrued beginning Feb. 1, 2026, and onward. Qualifications include an establishment date before Sept. 27, 2024, lost income due to Helene, legal United States residency, current operating hours or future plans to reopen and $20,000 minimum earnings in 2023, 2024 or 2025.

Applicants must provide proof of a business address inside Asheville city limits, a government-issued photo ID, 2023 and 2024 tax returns, a 2025 tax return or profit and loss statement and financial records displaying the impact the storm had on business.

Applications open Monday, June 15 and close at noon on Tuesday, July 14. Award notifications will be made in July-Sept. 2026, with fund distribution to begin at the end of the year and stretch into 2027.

Find more information about the program and application requirements at www.ashevillerecoverstogether.org.

A big step forward for Asheville small businesses

In advance of the Asheville Recovers Together portal opening for applications next week, organizing administrators ArtsAVL, Eagle Market Streets Development Corporation and Mountain BizWorks hosted an information session at 9:30 a.m., Thursday, June 11 at the YMI Cultural Center, 39 S. Market St., Asheville, N.C.

The meeting, which was attended by Asheville luminaries like Asheville City Council member Maggie Ullman and Asheville Mayor Esther Manheimer, was packed with small business owners.

The YMI Cultural Center was full as Asheville City Council member Maggie Ullman addressed the crowd.

At times, the energy in the room was emotional. Several attendees were wiping their eyes as Ullman spoke to the room about the recovery.

“Recovery isn’t just about rebuilding infrastructure, it’s about rebuilding livelihoods and preserving the places where people gather, celebrate milestones, create jobs and build a community. It’s about making sure Asheville remains Asheville,” Ullman said. “I think it’s important to acknowledge that everyone in this room already knows the funding did not arrive quickly enough, and it’s not going to be enough. But multiple things can be true at once. 
It can also be true that this grant funding is profoundly meaningful for our recovery and for each of you.”

Asheville Mayor Esther Manheimer at the event.

Rebecca Lynch, development and grants director for ArtsAVL, reinforced the idea that the grants are for many kinds of small business owners, artists included.

“Creative businesses are an important part of Asheville’s small business ecosystem, yet they often face barriers accessing traditional business support programs and funding opportunities. We are excited that arts businesses, independent makers, solo entrepreneurs, performers, creative professionals and other creative entrepreneurs are explicitly included in Asheville Recovers Together,” Lynch said. “
We also know that creatives and artists do not always think of themselves as small businesses. But you are.”

The speakers at the event, which also featured Go Local Asheville Executive Director Sherree Lucas, Eagle Market Streets Development Corporation CEO Stephanie Swepson-Twitty and Asheville Recovers Together Grants Manager Amanda Keiser, repeatedly returned to praising the business owners for their perseverance and resiliency throughout Helene recovery.

“I know I speak for everyone involved in this process, in this program, when I say it has been a distinct honor and a privilege to be able to advocate on behalf of the business community, and it has been hard-fought and hard-won to get these dollars to this community,” said Casey Gilbert, vice president of public policy for the Asheville Chamber of Commerce. “
So, I just want to say, what a joy and a privilege and an honor it has been to get us here today.”

Leaders from many organizations came together to make Asheville Recovers Together a reality.

Gilbert was speaking to a large community with her remarks. Mountain BizWorks Executive Director Matt Raker estimated that around 1,000 businesses will apply for Asheville Recovers Together, which will be able to award around 500 of them. The total number of businesses in need, he said, was even greater.

Nonetheless, Raker said he sees a hopeful path forward.

“I think this is a great reflection of how vibrant our local business community is. How there’s definitely need, but also that creativity and that resilient spirit that we have,” Raker said. “I think these funds will help us recover, but it’ll also help us move forward.”

For more information about Asheville Recovers Together, visit www.ashevillerecoverstogether.org.

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