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COVID-19

Supporting local businesses and workers is one thing each of us can do right now. We’ve set up this page with resources, key information, creative initiatives and contacts.

RESOURCES

For the most recent updates affecting our community please visit:

Updates to Gov. Cooper’s Phased lifting of restrictions.
North Carolina will remain in Safer-At-Home Phase 2 through Friday, Sept. 11. Face coverings will be required statewide in public spaces indoors or outdoors.

 

TOWN HALLS

Town Hall on Rent/Mortgage Relief
Wednesday, August 19 at 2 p.m. • Register

Panelists will address rent and leasing issues, options for renegotiating and available relief.

  • Jake Farrar, attorney with Van Winkle Law Firm and Tenants’ Advocate
  • Chris Murrey, Chief Loan Officer, Mountain Bizworks
  • Joe Ward, Regional Executive, First Bank
  • Stephanie West, Commercial Broker, Whitney Commercial Real Estate

View the recording from the recent Town Hall on NC Job Retention Grant

BUSINESS LOANS / GRANTS

Businesses and nonprofit organizations in North Carolina that have experienced interruption due to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic could qualify for up to $250,000 from this new state grant program. They are accepting applications through Sept. 1. To learn more and apply >

 

Payroll Protection Program
The deadline for the Payroll Protection Program has passed. For those who receive the loan, recent changes to the terms of the Payroll Protection Program PPP include:
  • The loan forgiveness period has been increased from 8 weeks to 24 weeks.
  • The proceeds required for payroll have been reduced from 75% to 60%.
  • Loan repayment period has been increased from 2 years to 5 years.
  • An allowance for a payroll tax deferral for PPP loan recipients has been included.
  • The deadline for rehiring employees under the safe harbor rule has been extended beyond June 30th.
These changes should bring welcome relief to many PPP Loan recipients.
For a comprehensive list on other available grants and loans as well as information on maximizing the PPP forgiveness please visit Mountain BizWorks guide here.

SIGNAGE

Posters for your windows
Keep Asheville Safe
If you have a local business and you’re reopening, feel free to download and print out this poster for your window (and use this one if you are requiring face masks). It is important that we communicate, together, as a community, the need to keep each other safe and how we all can participate in that.

We’re also encouraging businesses to post these Pro-Mask = Pro-Asheville posters and use the hashtag on social media #MaskAVL to encourage folks to wear them, as they make all of us safer.

Check out the Asheville Chamber’s Smart Restart Toolkit and resources for businesses.

 

 

OPENING YOUR BUSINESS

Need supplies?
Find local suppliers to help you reopen (hand-sanitizer, cleaning supplies, gloves, masks…) with this list updated by the Chamber and from the SupplyConnector(started locally).

The City of Asheville set up a Ready Team call center at 828-419-0095 or at [email protected] to help answer general questions related to COVID-19 in Buncombe County and direct you to the best resources available if we cannot answer your questions.  In a partnership with United Way’s 211, the call center will have options for Spanish, Russian and multiple other languages.

Our goal is to update this page as frequently as possible. If you have knowledge, answers or additional questions, please email [email protected]. Many thanks to all the folks who contributed!

Our community comes together to bring you these resources

You can still enjoy your favorite dishes from Asheville’s independent restaurants from the comfort of home! Check out this frequently updated list to see incredible local restaurants offering take-out or delivery.

#AshevilleStrong is a movement to buy local gift cards now in Asheville and WNC. Over the coming weeks and months, our favorite restaurants, hotels, shops, salons, theaters, markets and other hardworking WNC businesses are going to see a decline in visitors. Gift cards equal immediate cash flow. And cash flow is the lifeblood of our local businesses.

These are the moments that define communities, and ours will be defined by its willingness to help one another. It is this spirit that has driven the creation of the One Buncombe Fund. Together we will get through this.

Buncombe County has been monitoring Coronavirus/COVID-19 since it was first announced as a potential threat. The health and safety of our community is our highest priority. As such, our Public Health department is partnering with the NC Department of Health and Human Services, health care providers, and first responders to watch and respond to this evolving situation.

SupplyConnector is a directory designed to connect those who can supply materials and manufacture finished goods with those who need them most.

As Coronavirus continues to spread at an alarming rate, organizations far and wide are being overwhelmed by high volumes of patients, undersupplied facilities, and the inability to connect with the very people that are able to help them. Many businesses have been brought to a complete standstill and are unable to operate. This is where #COVIDMobilize comes in.

Quick links to information in this document:

What can I do to help?

Our business is open / operating! Who can help us get the word out?

Unemployment Insurance

General Business Assistance

Gig Workers Assistance

Restaurant Workers Assistance

Musicians, Artists and Event Producers Assistance

Hospitality Workers Assistance

Domestic Workers Assistance

Nonprofit Assistance

Childcare Assistance

Local food resources (Buncombe County map)

Census Jobs

Food trucks and temp. signage ease on restrictions (City of Asheville)

Coronavirus Información en Español (Mountain BizWorks)

 

If your business is operating these folks are helping to get the word out:

BizRadio Asheville is offering free commercial slots to local businesses. If you’re interested, just fill out this form.

Asheville Radio Group is currently giving local restaurants FREE “Takeout Shout-outs” on all 7 of our radio stations thru April. Contact Dawn Ceasman 828-210-8590. Visit them at: avlradio.com & the828.com.

Directories of businesses in operation:

ASAP (farms, CSAs)
AIR (restaurants)
Asheville Area Arts Council
IAMAVL.com (music)
Explore Asheville
OnHaywood (West Asheville)

If you’re an ASHEVILLE GROWN member please consider updating your listing if you are offering takeout or delivery services, online purchasing, classes, workshops and / or gift cards and add any additional information people need to know to your description.

    • Simply login here >
    • Click the button that says “Edit”
    • Hit the NEXT button until you come to the Business Collections page (2nd to the last)
    • Select Takeout / Deliver, Online Purchasing / Workshops / Classes and / or Gift Cards
    • Click NEXT and UPDATE POST.

What are the best things I can do to support my community?

General Business Assistance

Gig Workers Assistance

Restaurant Workers Assistance

Musicians, Artists and Event Producers Assistance

Hospitality Worker Assistance

Asheville hospitality workers relief GoFundMe (organized by Emily Dunaway)

Domestic Worker Assistance

National Domestic Workers’ Alliance

Nonprofit Assistance

  • Community Foundation of NC Emergency and Disaster Response Fund (EDRF): provides funding for human service organizations in addressing basic needs that have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Nonprofits in the tourism industry can apply for the BCTDA fund. More information from Mountain BizWorks here.

Childcare Assistance

Buncombe Partnership for Children They are also accepting emergency donation funds. If you are able, please consider contributing >

Census Jobs

US Census Taker Jobs Pay $19/hour

The US Census is recruiting workers, a lot of them in Buncombe County.  The Census Taker job pays $19/hour in Buncombe County with premium pay after 6 PM weekdays and on Sundays and you get 57.5 cents a mile for official travel. You’ll be expected to work 20 hours a week. Scheduling these hours is totally flexible. Work is temporary, maybe 8 weeks to start with some more weeks possible.
Learn more and apply >
or contact our local representative, Peter with any questions
[email protected] | 828-641-7100 (office)

Gratitude in solidarity

Many thanks to our team at Go Local Asheville, the City of Asheville, Asheville Downtown Association, Just Economics, Asheville Chamber of Commerce, AIR, Explore Asheville, the Radical Communicators Network, Hola Carolina, Mountain Xpress, Asheville Area Arts Council, Mountain BizWorks, Claudette Silver (Silver Muse Productions), Sage Turner (French Broad Food Coop and candidate for City Council), Kimberly Hunter (Realtor), Sandra Dennison (SBTDC), Jake Farrar (VanWinkle Law Firm), Geoff Ferland (Hummingbird Insurance), Leah B. Noel (CPA), Elizabeth Schell (local activist and owner of Purl’s Yarn Emporium) and others for helping to compile this list of resources.