Funding for Recovery
Grants
Grant support is an important pillar of a robust economic recovery. Discover current opportunities for small businesses and apply below.
WNC Strong: Recover Forward Grants for Rural Businesses
The next round of recovery grants will provide direct grants to help rural small businesses in the most distressed communities stabilize, rebuild, and position themselves for long-term success.
Grant Information
WNC Strong: Recover Forward grants for rural businesses will focus on reopening costs that have not been covered by other funding sources and funding for businesses that have not yet opened to the community.
More information will be available about this round of grant funding in October.
The purpose of the program:
- Provide financial assistance for community recovery and resilience to communities specifically impacted by Hurricane Helene, helping to bring back vital services for small businesses and entrepreneurs.
- Restore and repair critical infrastructure, allowing small businesses to resume function and operations to support economic recovery and sustainability.
- Assist in restoring or expanding small businesses’ ability to attract customers to business districts to help retain business, expand access, spur private investment to create stability, and leverage resources to create resiliency and economic growth.
Eligible Applicants
More information coming soon.
Additional Grants Available
Grant funding is a key part of Western North Carolina's recovery, and more opportunities are being made available each day. We'll continue updating these lists with grants by category and location to find the funds applicable to your business and eligibility.
General Grants
Global Empowerment Mission Small Business Grants
Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (Deadline Oct 31)
NC Private Road & Bridge Reimbursement Program
Relief Funding for Child Care Centers
IRC and Chase Disaster Relief Fund - for independent restaurants and bars (Deadline Oct 3)
Heart on Main Street Natural Disaster Grant Program
NCHBA Hurricane Helene Relief and Recovery Grants - for home builders association members
Grants by County
Outdoor Industry Grants
Grants for Artists and Creatives
Grants for Food and Farm Businesses
Information for Nonprofits/Local Governments
Small Business Infrastructure Grant Program (for local governments)
SEAP Pro Bono Grant Writing and Strategic Advice
Tides Foundation Crisis Response Fund
The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina Emergency & Disaster Response Fund Grants
Polk County Community Foundation Disaster Recovery Grant
Golden Leaf Foundation Helene Relief
Closed Grant Opportunities
Small Business Hurricane Recovery Grant Program
Lowe's Western North Carolina Small Business Recovery Fund
WNC Small Business Recovery Grant Initiative
Asheville-Buncombe Rebuilding Together Grant Fund
Hope for the High Country - Ashe/Avery/Watauga Counties - Grants to recover from Hurricane Helene
LoveHendo Business Recovery Fund - Henderson County - Grants for businesses in Henderson County
ArtsAVL Emergency Relief Grants - $500 grants for artists impacted by Hurricane Helene
AIGA Asheville - designer support relief grant
WNC Communities - 20 county service area - Immediate disaster needs for farm businesses
WNC Bridge Foundation NOW Grant
Asheville Recovery Endeavor's We Are Grant
Creative Relief Fund: Grants for Artists Affected by Floods
Marshall & Hot Springs Rebuilding Together Grant Fund
Western NC Hurricane Helene Small Business Grant Relief Fund in partnership with Lenovo
Outdoor Recreation Roundtable Rural Recovery Grants
BRNHA Artist Relief Fund for Craft and Music
ArtsAVL Arts Business Relief Grant
Diverse Books - emergency grants for writers
The Community Foundation's Emergency and Disaster Response Fund
United Way North Carolina Disaster Relief Fund
Community Foundation of Henderson County Helene Recovery Grants
ArtsAVL Arts Business Relief Grant
Community Foundation of Burke County Disaster Relief Fund
NCDA&CS: Ag Disaster Crop Loss Program (Deadline: May 4, 2025)
Southern Arts Relief & Recovery Fund (Deadline: May 7, 2025)
American Express Backing Small Businesses
Volunteer Organizations Repair and Reconstruction Grant Program (Deadline: May 15)
NCDA&CS Disaster Relief Program (Deadline: May 19)
CERF+ Get Ready Grants for Craft Artists (Deadline: June 10, 2025)
Emergency Supplemental Historic Preservation Fund (ESHPF) (Deadline: July 15)
T-Mobile Hometown Grants (for local governments and nonprofits) (Deadline: June 30)
Appalachian Community Resilience + Response Mini-Grant Program (ACRR) (Deadline: June 27)
SouthArts 2025 Cross-Sector Impact Grants program (Deadline: July 30, 2025)
TIC Civic Hub Business Grants (deadline Aug 15)
Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Subgrant Program (deadline August 21, 2025)
We are deeply grateful to our funders for making this support possible
WNC Strong is a collective of partners who love Western North Carolina:
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To join this group of collaborative partners, please email Christine Laucher at christine@mountainbizworks.org.