Asheville Recovers Together

When a storm changes the shape of a city, recovery becomes a shared effort.

The Asheville Recovers Together Grant Fund was created with that spirit in mind—an invitation for local businesses to steady themselves, rebuild, and move forward with the support of their community.

Tropical Storm Helene left many Asheville businesses facing losses they could not have prepared for. This grant program offers direct financial help, with awards ranging from $5,000 to $75,000, to cover essential operating costs like payroll, rent, utilities, inventory, and other expenses that keep a business alive. It is meant to ease the pressure so owners can focus on reopening, rehiring, and restoring what was disrupted.

What makes this effort especially meaningful is that no one is expected to navigate it alone. Free one‑on‑one guidance is available for anyone who needs help understanding the requirements or completing the application. The goal is simple: make the path to recovery clear, supportive, and accessible.

To qualify, a business must be located within Asheville city limits and must have been operating before September 27, 2024. It should show a loss of income caused by Tropical Storm Helene that has not already been fully covered by insurance, grants, crowdfunding, SBA loans, or other aid. The business must be open now or have a plan to reopen, and all owners with at least 20 percent ownership must be legal U.S. residents. Applicants also need to show at least $20,000 in revenue in 2023, 2024, or 2025 and be in good standing—meaning no active bankruptcies, tax liens, or restrictions that would block federal funding.

Applications are open until July 14, 2026 at 12 noon, and the process begins at ashevillerecoverstogether.org. A recorded informational webinar is also available at ashevillerecoverstogether.org/events, where program partners walk through the details and explain how to get FREE application support.

If you or someone you know is rebuilding after the storm, this grant program is one way the community is reaching back. It’s a reminder that recovery is not a solitary act. It’s something we do together.

This fund is made possible by the City of Asheville and administered by ArtsAVL, Eagle Market Streets Development Corporation, and Mountain BizWorks, working alongside community partners who understand how much local businesses mean to the life of this city. Their collaboration reflects a shared belief that recovery is not just about rebuilding structures or balancing budgets—it’s about restoring the heartbeat of Asheville’s neighborhoods.