Bank of America has named Mountain BizWorks as its 2026 Neighborhood Builders® for its work supporting emerging small businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs in Western North Carolina. Bank of America’s signature Neighborhood Builders program continues to be one of the nation’s largest philanthropic investments into nonprofit leadership development, while providing unique multiyear funding annually to high-impact nonprofits in communities nationwide.

Specifically, the Asheville nonprofit will receive a $100,000 grant over two years, comprehensive leadership training for the organization’s executive director and an emerging leader, and access to a national network of nonprofit peers.

“Small businesses are the economic backbone and cultural heartbeat of Western North Carolina. Mountain BizWorks has consistently proven to be a champion for local entrepreneurs—providing critical access to capital, coaching, and resources when our community needs it most,” said David Dowd, president, Bank of America Asheville. “Naming Mountain BizWorks as our 2026 Neighborhood Builder recognizes their enduring work to foster opportunity and help support a resilient economy throughout our mountain communities.”

Mountain BizWorks provides business loans and education to emerging and established small businesses in Western North Carolina, especially those unable to access financing from traditional sources. This new grant funding comes at a time when small business support is more needed than ever as Hurricane Helene recovery continues. It will also strengthen the organization’s capacity to keep offering entrepreneur-centered programming, with a focus on low- and moderate-income business owners.

“When business owners sit in a room with peers facing the same challenges and opportunities, they share ideas and build networks that last long after class ends. We’re grateful to Bank of America and thrilled to receive the Neighborhood Builders award to make learning and coaching opportunities more accessible to local entrepreneurs, regardless of income,” said Matt Raker, Executive Director of Mountain BizWorks. “The program also invests in our own leadership development, so we’re ready to plan for the long term and reach even more entrepreneurs in the years ahead.”

Since the program’s inception, eight nonprofits have been selected as Neighborhood Builders in Asheville, with the bank investing more than $450,000 in philanthropic capital into these nonprofits.

“The Bank of America Neighborhood Builders program is designed to empower established nonprofits that are at a pivotal moment of growth,” said Taryn Thompson, COO of Global Markets for Bank of America, and market sponsor, Bank of America Asheville. “By pairing flexible financial capital with comprehensive leadership training for the Mountain BizWorks’ top executive and emerging leader, we seek to help amplify their mission and support their continued innovation as a premier CDFI.”

Neighborhood Builders is part of the bank’s longstanding efforts to build thriving communities by addressing issues fundamental to economic opportunity. Since 2004, Bank of America’s Neighborhood Builders program has invested more than $346 million in communities across the U.S. and trained more than 4,000 leaders at nearly 2,000 U.S. nonprofits.

Learn more about Bank of America’s Neighborhood Builders® program.

Source: Mountain BizWorks.