The Asheville Chamber will host Business Before Hours on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, from 8–9 a.m. at MAHEC’s Biltmore Campus, 121 Hendersonville Rd, Asheville, NC. Join us for this special event that will introduce the Asheville business community to MAHEC’s mission, impact, and growing role in advancing healthcare across Western North Carolina. You’ll learn how their academic health system supports the region’s workforce, strengthens community well‑being and expands access to care. Learn more and register. Learn more and register here.
The Asheville Museum of Science will host an adults‑only opening event for its exhibit Gear Up: The Science of Bikes on Thursday, March 19 from 6–9 p.m. The exhibit features 14 vintage bicycles and hands‑on displays exploring motion, balance, gears, and materials science. Guests attending the opening celebration will enjoy an engaging evening highlighting both the science of biking and Asheville’s vibrant cycling culture. Learn more and buy tickets here.
AVL Film, co‑produced by Charly Louise, is hosting its quarterly screening series Spotlight Film Showcase. It will feature four short documentaries addressing housing, reentry after incarceration, climate resilience, and food access. Learn more and buy tickets here.
The Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority (TDA) will open the 2026 LIFT Fund cycle on April 1. The LIFT Fund provides strategic investment in tourism-related capital projects that increase patronage of lodging, meeting, and convention facilities in Buncombe County while benefiting the community at large. About $11 million will support tourism‑related capital projects that enhance lodging and meeting‑facility usage while benefiting the community. Learn more and apply here.
The City of Asheville’s Community and Economic Development (CED) team released applications for HOME‑ARP funding from March 16–May 15, offering $3 million to support affordable housing for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness. The funds come from a $4.7 million federal award administered through the Asheville Regional Housing Consortium. Learn more and apply here.
DMJPS PLLC will host a webinar titled A Guide to a Smarter Exit Plan. It’ll take place Tuesday, March 24 from 2–3 p.m. via Zoom. Presenters Michael Waddell and Todd Plyler, CPA, will discuss valuation drivers, exit planning, and preparing businesses for ownership transitions tied to the “Silver Tsunami.” Learn more and register here.
Explore Asheville is accepting nominations for the Heroes of Hospitality Awards through 5 p.m. on March 31. The Heroes of Hospitality Awards recognize frontline employees and volunteers who deliver outstanding service in Buncombe County’s travel and hospitality industry. From restaurant servers and baristas to attraction staff, housekeepers, tour guides, and volunteers, these team members help create positive visitor experiences and represent Asheville and Buncombe County to guests from around the world. Eligible nominees include non‑managerial staff and volunteers across hospitality roles. Learn more and nominate here.
The Grove Arcade in Downtown Asheville will host Grove Arcade in Bloom on Saturday, April 25, 2026, from 12–4 p.m. The family‑friendly spring event will feature performances, activities, and interactive floral installations. Learn more.
Mission Health is accepting applications for the Kesha Young Health Careers Scholarship. Now in its 29th year, the aim of this scholarship is to support education goals for high school seniors and college students in Western North Carolina, who are interested in healthcare careers. Applications are due by 5 p.m. on Friday, April 17. Learn more and apply here.
The Respite Scholarship Program offers monthly stipends to families of children with emotional, behavioral, or medical challenges, helping them pay trusted childcare providers. Funds may be used for babysitting, summer camps, after‑school programs, or YMCA memberships, supporting parents who need short‑term relief. Learn more and apply here.
Tanger Outlets Asheville, in partnership with Women United, is hosting a Women’s History Month donation drive from March 1–31 at 800 Brevard Rd, Asheville, NC. Donations of hygiene and personal‑care items will support local women and families in Buncombe County. Items will be accepted daily from 10 a.m.–8 p.m. in the Tanger Outlets food court and distributed to ABCCM programs and Helpmate.
Western Carolina University will host The Success Formula: Social Media Marketing + Artificial Intelligence + Project Management event on Wednesday, April 1 from 9 a.m.–1:30 p.m. at the Biltmore Park Campus, 28 Schenck Pkwy, Asheville. The program covers social media marketing, AI tools and project management for small business owners. Registration is $18.50. Learn more and register here.
The Wortham Center will present Stony the Road on Friday, April 17 at 7 p.m., performed by the Reginald Golden Singers. This newly arranged musical suite highlights the ensemble’s history, including its national debut at the White House and collaborations with major gospel artists. Learn more and buy tickets here.
New & Noteworthy
A‑B Tech received over $1.04 million in grants to build ABM Works, a regional work‑based learning ecosystem offering internships and training for high‑school students across Asheville, Buncombe, and Madison counties. The college received $750,000 from the North Carolina GSK Foundation and $299,338 from the Dogwood Health Trust to fund the creation of Asheville-Buncombe-Madison (ABM) Works. Learn more.
The City of Asheville named Bill Hart Water Resources Director effective March 16, 2026. With 16 years in the department, Hart has served in multiple operational and management roles. Bill was instrumental in Water Resources’ response to and recovery from Helene, and his expertise continues to guide the plan to make the water system as resilient as possible as quickly as possible.
The City of Asheville is beginning an assessment and inventory of its stormwater system, a critical step toward evaluating current system information and building a more comprehensive, reliable picture of the system. The assessment will help the City identify asset conditions, prioritize maintenance, recommend capital improvement projects, identify areas of localized nuisance flooding and identify erosion areas that need stabilization. Learn more.
Dogwood Health Trust and PCDC launched a $10.5 million initiative to strengthen the financial stability of Federally Qualified Health Centers across Western North Carolina. This strategic collaboration ensures that eligible FQHCs and look-alikes with a physical location in the 18 westernmost North Carolina counties served by Dogwood can maintain essential health care access for residents despite the financial strain caused by Hurricane Helene and federal funding uncertainty.
Mission Hospital received the 2026 Patient Safety Excellence Award from Healthgrades, placing it among the top 5% of U.S. hospitals for patient safety performance. This award reflects Mission Health’s commitment to safe, patient-centered care. Learn more.
Mountain Credit Union announced that Amy Woody will retire in early April 2026 after 28 years with the company and 34 years in the credit union industry. Her career spans roles from teller to manager, including leadership at McDowell Cornerstone Credit Union.
Southern Living ranked Asheville #3 among Southern cities in 2026. They call Asheville “an artsy mountain town with a penchant for an ice-cold beer, farm-to-table plate, and afternoon hike.” The damage from Hurricane Helene is mentioned, too, while the publication notes that “the city has bounced back, welcoming visitors with all the same energy that it has ever had.” Learn more.
UNC Asheville hosted the WNC Health Policy Initiative Legislative Summit on March 13, bringing together 100+ healthcare, academic, nonprofit, and government leaders to address rural health resilience, workforce sustainability, and regional policy challenges.
Xico in downtown Asheville is launching a Mexican‑inspired brunch featuring dishes prepared with authentic ingredients, house‑made masa, and tortillas. The new weekend experience will include festive craft cocktails. Learn more.
Community Input
The UNC Asheville Millennial Campus Development Advisory Committee announced a public‑engagement process on March 9, 2026. Activities will include small‑group conversations, stakeholder interviews, and a public feedback platform to guide recommendations for future Millennial Campus properties. Learn more.