ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Buncombe County will receive nearly $800,000 in state funding to repair and extend sidewalks in Beacon Village, part of a new round of grants aimed at helping Western North Carolina communities and small businesses recover from Tropical Storm Helene.
The county was awarded $786,291 for improvements along Railroad, South and Alexander streets in Beacon Village, according to an announcement Thursday from Gov. Josh Stein’s office.
The Buncombe County project is among seven receiving nearly $5.1 million through the N.C. Department of Commerce’s Small Business Infrastructure Grant Program, known as SmBIZ.
The program uses state money to help local governments repair or improve public infrastructure where Helene damage has affected access to or operations of small businesses.
“These grants will strengthen Main Streets and help small businesses welcome customers,” Stein said in announcing the latest awards.
Other grants include $233,191 for infrastructure improvements in downtown West Jefferson in Ashe County and $100,000 to replace a failing culvert on Main Street in Elk Park in Avery County.
Hayesville in Clay County received three $1 million grants for projects involving sidewalks, stormwater infrastructure and a retaining wall. Bryson City in Swain County was awarded $965,968 to restore part of its public water system south of the Tuckasegee River.
The latest awards follow nearly $8.5 million announced earlier this year for 13 projects through the same program.
Since 2025, the state says SmBIZ has awarded more than $36 million for 51 projects across Western North Carolina. The projects have included downtown streetscape repairs, water and sewer improvements, stormwater systems and utility relocation.
The grants come as the region approaches the second anniversary of Helene, which caused widespread flooding and infrastructure damage across Western North Carolina on Sept. 27, 2024.
The Stein administration says more than 99 percent of roads closed or affected by the storm have reopened and 99 percent of damaged drinking water systems have been fully restored. The state also says it has awarded more than $105 million in grants and loans to nearly 3,000 small businesses, helping retain nearly 15,000 jobs.
But major recovery needs remain. According to the governor’s office, more than $758 million in federal funding is still needed to fully repair damaged water systems and make them more resilient to future storms.
Stein is also asking Congress for an additional $10 billion for Western North Carolina recovery. His proposal includes $5 billion for infrastructure, $3 billion for housing and $1.5 billion for economic recovery, with the remainder going toward other recovery needs.
Local governments in eligible Western North Carolina counties can continue applying for SmBIZ grants as long as funding remains available.
