Buncombe County has been awarded $786,000 by the Small Business Infrastructure Grant Program to repair and extend sidewalks in the Swannanoa Commercial Corridor, advancing critical pedestrian infrastructure improvements as part of ongoing Tropical Storm Helene recovery efforts.

The Small Business Infrastructure Grant Program was launched by the North Carolina Department of Commerce in April 2025 to support communities recovering from Helene. The program provides funding for infrastructure projects that strengthen small business districts and improve long-term economic resilience.  

The Swannanoa sidewalk improvement initiative is one of two County applications submitted in partnership with the North Carolina Department of Transportation. The newly awarded project covering Railroad Street, Alexander Place, and South Avenue will improve approximately 1,000 square yards of pedestrian infrastructure. Construction management will be provided by the North Carolina Department of Transportation.

This $786,000 grant builds on the County’s earlier success securing $979,000 for sidewalk improvements on Whitson Avenue, bringing total Small Business Infrastructure Grant-funded awards for Swannanoa to more than $1.7 million.

“These investments strengthen safety, accessibility, and commercial vitality in one of our most impacted communities,” said Helene Recovery Officer Kevin Madsen. “Of course, we know that sidewalks are just one piece of the puzzle when it comes to Swannanoa’s recovery and community resilience, and we’ll continue to work to support all of the priorities identified not just in the Helene Recovery Plan, but the Swannanoa Small Area Plan as well.”

The Small Business Infrastructure Grant Program enables up to $55 million statewide for infrastructure recovery and small business revitalization. Grants are capped at $1 million per project and $5.5 million per county, and projects must improve public infrastructure that supports small businesses employing fewer than 150 people.

Buncombe County continues to leverage additional opportunities to expand pedestrian connectivity throughout Swannanoa. Staff have submitted a $10 million request in Community Development Block Grant–Disaster Recovery (CDBG‑DR) funding to build 2.25 miles of contiguous sidewalks along Highway 70 between Whitson Avenue and Warren Wilson Road. The County has also pursued a CDBG-Neighborhood Revitalization request of up to $750,000 for right-of-way acquisition to complement Small Business Infrastructure Grant-funded improvements.