Eligibility

• Business must be a small, independent business that had at least 2 employees and not more than 100 employees as of September 26, 2024. (Owners who are actively working in the business do count as employees; passive owners and independent contractors do not.) 
• Business must have been in operation prior to July 1, 2024. 
• Business must provide a direct in-person visitor experience. A business engaged in providing lodging, in whole or in part, is not eligible.   
• Business must be physically located within Buncombe County. 
• Applicant must be able to demonstrate the business was impacted by Hurricane Helene, including but not limited to business interruption, physical damage, and/or loss of equipment or inventory. 
• Must be able to provide a clear plan to re-open quickly, along with a detailed description for the use of grant funds. 

Application Timeline

• Application Opens: October 31, 2024 
• Application Deadline: November 11, 2024, 5pm 
• Award Notifications Issued: November 22, 2024 

The application window for the Always Asheville Fund is now closed.

Application Evaluation Criteria

• Visitor Impact | (1) Level of impact in attracting visitors to Buncombe County; (2) Reliance on visitors for business revenue/customer base.
• Re-opening Quickly and Sustainably | (1) Realistic use of funds for re-opening plan; (2) Degree to which the requested grant will be joined by and/or help leverage additional funds; and (3) Applicant’s ability to access other sources of funding  
• Alignment with Strategic Imperatives | Business alignment with one or more of BCTDA’s four strategic imperatives 
• Job Recovery & Retention | Ability to retain employees and/or rehire positions
• Locally-Owned & Independent | Supports our unique and diverse local business community and will prioritize businesses that are independently-owned.