(April 2026) –The Asheville Merchants Fund of The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina (CFWNC) recently awarded a total of $780,000 to eight Buncombe County organizations to support projects strengthening community and stimulating economic growth.
The grants support innovative economic approaches that invest in emerging local economies and entrepreneurship, quality jobs and workforce training, and social infrastructure supporting family economic success and the ability of employees to participate fully in the workforce.
“Western North Carolina Community Health Services (WNCCHS) is deeply grateful for this multi-year grant from the Asheville Merchants Fund, which allows us to invest in our people and strengthen the essential roles that make high-quality, whole-person care possible,” said Anita Case, Chief Executive Officer. “It will expand access to life-saving services for those who need them most and deepen our commitment to serving the most vulnerable in our community.”
The recent grant cycle awarded:
$105,000 over three years to Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project to support the economic recovery and resiliency of homegrown businesses and small farms in Buncombe County by providing responsive training and resources.
$105,000 over three years to Asheville-Buncombe Community Christian Ministry to improve the economic prospects for homeless women living at Transformation Village through non-traditional training, basic education, and employment services.
$75,000 over three years to Children First/Communities in Schools of Buncombe County to support its afterschool and summer programming provided at no cost to families of school-age children, allowing parents to participate in the workforce.
$75,000 over three years to IFB Solutions, Asheville Division to expand a workforce development initiative that helps blind or visually impaired individuals gain the skills needed to advance into higher-wage, in-demand positions.
$105,000 over three years to Irene Wortham Center to launch a workforce initiative addressing the shortage of specialized early childhood educators trained to serve children with intellectual and developmental disabilities and medically fragile conditions and to increase employees’ earning potential.
$105,000 over three years to Pisgah Legal Services to provide access to free legal assistance in Buncombe County that removes workforce participation barriers by restoring driver’s licenses and expunging eligible criminal records for low-income individuals.
$105,000 over three years to Western North Carolina Community Health Services to provide on-the-job training and credentialing that allows staff to earn higher wages in high-demand, mission-critical positions necessary to provide high-quality patient care.
$105,000 over three years to Working Wheels to provide affordable automotive repairs to help low-income Buncombe County residents and families stay employed, stable, and self-sufficient.
With this cycle, the Asheville Merchants Fund grant period has been extended to three years. The next opportunity to apply will be in 2029.