At our Policy on Tap on Oct. 27, 2025, three local leaders shared what’s next for small business support, local contracting and long-term resilience. We were pleased to have James Shelton and Marcus Kirkman from the City of Asheville and Christine Laucher of Mountain BizWorks on hand to share resources and updates important to the business community.

Read below for our recap or click to view the presentation slides.

Fast-Tracking Federal Recovery Dollars

James Shelton, Community Development Division Manager for the City of Asheville gave an overview of recovery funding. Asheville has received $225 million in federal Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funds – one of the fastest post-disaster allocations in the nation. CDBG-DR programs include $31M for housing, $125M for infrastructure and $2M for public services.

$52 million has been allocated to economic revitalization programs including $30 million for revitalization of flooded commercial districts (site development, facility improvements, flood-proofing and arts and cultural support) and $5 million for workforce development (skilled labor and specialized training benefiting recovery and rebuilding efforts).

$17 million will directly support small businesses through grants and technical assistance focused on keeping doors open, retaining jobs and re-establishing operations. The Asheville Chamber partnered with the City and Go Local Asheville to gather input from business stakeholders to inform the small business support in alignment with our Advocacy Agenda.

The City will partner with nonprofit and institutional subrecipients that specialize in small business support. A Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) opened at the end of October with program rollout expected spring 2026.

In order to qualify, businesses must:

• meet the U.S. Small Business Administration size standards,
• maintain a principal place of business in the city limits,
• be independently owned and operated,
• demonstrate a direct or indirect economic impact or disruption from Helene and
• support job creation or retention, especially benefiting low- to moderate-income residents.

Shelton encouraged businesses to prepare now:

• Gather tax statements, profit-and-loss records, and proof of ownership.
• Register for a Unique Entity ID (UEI) at sam.gov if you don’t already have one.
• Register for a Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) code at cage.dla.mil if you don’t already have one.
• Confirm your NAICS code to determine eligibility at naics.com

“These funds are about stabilization and continuity,” Shelton emphasized. “Small businesses are the foundational pillar of Asheville’s economy.”

Learn more: AshevilleRecovers.org

Building Inclusion into Every Contract

Marcus Kirkman, Business Inclusion Manager for the City of Asheville, brought the conversation from funding to opportunity, specifically how local, minority-owned and women-owned businesses can tap into the city’s contracting pipeline.

Following the storm, Asheville prioritized hiring local small and MWBE firms for debris removal. One small landscaping business grew its equipment fleet and hired multiple crews through recovery contracts. “That’s what this is all about,” Kirkman said. “Local businesses creating local jobs.”

Kirkman outlined several steps to get started:

• Register as a city vendor through the Finance Department (a 5–7-day process).
• Apply for MWBE certification if your business is at least 51 percent minority-owned or woman-owned.
• Monitor the City’s bid page for opportunities in construction, general services, and professional services.

He also manages an email listserv of 300+ businesses, sharing bid notices and networking opportunities several times a week. “Community is the operative word in Community Economic Development,” Kirkman reminded attendees. “When we engage meaningfully, we all create change.”

Register as a vendor: ashevillenc.gov/purchasing

Financing Recovery and Growth

Christine Laucher, Partnership Manager at Mountain BizWorks, highlighted the organization’s rapid and ongoing response to Helene’s economic impact.

Just ten days after the storm, Mountain BizWorks launched the WNC Strong Helene Business Recovery Fund, which has since deployed $47 million in 800 loans. Thanks to recent state action, the fund now offers:

• One more year of 1 percent interest-only payments for existing borrowers.
• Expanded loan limits: from $100,000 to $150,000.

Beyond capital, Mountain BizWorks is helping businesses “Recover Forward” with:

• Automatic scholarships for 10 hours of free one-on-one business coaching.
• 80 percent off all courses and workshops.
• A new $1 million+ grant program for hard-hit communities like Swannanoa, Chimney Rock, Marshall and Hot Springs.

“Our goal isn’t just to help businesses recover,” Laucher said. “It’s to help them re-emerge stronger, more resilient, and ready for what’s next.”

Explore resources: MountainBizWorks.org or WNCStrongTogether.org