Join the Asheville-Buncombe Continuum of Care for the annual Point-in-Time Count! Community members will work as part of a small team to canvas Buncombe County surveying people experiencing homelessness. This critical data collection happens nationwide during the last 10 days of January each year. The information gathered helps direct federal funding, inform local strategy, [...]
The City of Asheville’s Community and Economic Development Department will be accepting applications for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds for fiscal year 2025-26 until February 7, 2025. We expect to make around $1,000,000 in awards this year. Please note that this is separate from the recently awarded $225,010,000 CDBG-Disaster Recovery grant the city received. Information [...]
Helene Recovery efforts in Asheville receive an additional 225-million dollars in fudning
On this episode of What’s Up Asheville, which discusses post-Helene recovery efforts, host Sam Parada interviews Sasha Vrtunski, the city's affordable housing officer. The pair discusses the City’s short-, mid-, and long-term approach to post-Helene recovery efforts and the resources available to residents.
Come learn about the benefits of a local government career and opportunities currently available with the City of Asheville! MLK Jr Park September 26
On Monday, September 9, the City of Asheville published the final Affordable Housing Plan. The plan is available on the project page of the City of Asheville website. The City will begin implementing some of the top priority strategies this Fall. Staff will work with the Affordable Housing Advisory Committee, community partners, and stakeholders on [...]
If this wall could talk! After standing tall for more than 30 years, the climbing wall located on the plaza at 43 Wall Street is being removed to make space for a new chapter. Climbmax Climbing Gym moved into the city-owned space in 1993. The City was strategic in activating this location as part of a downtown [...]
As a part of its Fiscal Year 2025 budget, the Asheville City Council included 8 permanent positions for the Community Responder Team, in alignment with Homelessness Strategies and Reimagining Public Safety priorities. With the understanding that homelessness is a crisis, not a crime, Asheville Fire Department (AFD) Community Responders will be the lead and first on-the-scene [...]
Council members solidified totals in four different categories: Affordable Housing, Transportation, Parks & Recreation, and Public Safety.
The Community Space Upfit Project is an ARPA-funded initiative to provide five community spaces with technology and infrastructure enabling virtual community meetings, and emergency briefings: connecting residents in real-time no matter the situation. In a pioneering move aimed at bolstering neighborhood connectivity and climate resilience, the City of Asheville will be enhancing five community spaces across [...]
Growing a Minority/Women-owned business? Come to the Business Inclusion event June 29th and learn more about working with the City of Asheville - and take advantage of great networking opportunities
On May 28, Asheville City Council authorized $180,000 to fund a contract for community facilitation, engagement, and project support services for the “Boosting the Block” Project, one of three projects funded by the Mellon Foundation to implement components of the Pack Square Plaza Vision Plan. The Block is Asheville’s historic Black business district and multicultural [...]
Join us June 7,14 &21 for all three session of The Homelessness Learning Series. To be held at the Weaverville Library
On this episode of What’s Up Asheville host Sam Parada interviews Minority Business Program Manager Marcus Kirkman and Economic Development Specialist Charlie Savage. The group talks goals and programs of the Business Inclusion Office and community opportunities fostered by our Economic Development Team.
Join us in congratulating the recent CAYLA program graduates as they set off on bright futures.
The Homelessness Division of the City of Asheville Community and Economic Development Department invites members of the public to join them for an informative learning series focused on homelessness in our community. This 3-part learning series, presented by Homeless Strategy Specialist Debbie Alford, offers community members the opportunity to learn more about the causes, responses, [...]
The Continuum of Care (COC) is the formal planning body with primary responsibility for homelessness response in the Asheville-Buncombe community. Its newly-formed membership of over 300 stakeholders met for the first time February 29, 2024 to adopt a new governance charter and again April 25, 2024 to elect a new leadership Board. The [...]
