More than 500 representatives of recycling companies, local governments, state and federal agencies, universities and colleges, state recycling organizations and other non-profits will gather in Raleigh, NC – the vibrant capital of North Carolina – at the Raleigh Convention Center from March 23-26, 2020 to network, learn, plan, and influence issues affecting recycling in both states and beyond.

Asheville Area Arts Relief Fund Survey We are looking into starting an arts relief fund, but donations are hard to come by right now. Please complete this very short survey to help us determine how we can work together to support our local arts community during this pandemic. Take the Survey Americans for the Arts Economic Impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) on the Arts and Cultural Sector Survey This survey is designed to collect information about the financial and human impacts that the spread of the coronavirus has had on arts and cultural organizations. The survey also collects basic information about the participating organizations so that the data can be parsed by specific geographic regions, artistic disciplines, and budget categories. Take the Survey

Hello, We hope you and your family are coping with this unprecedented situation. The City and Development Services Department (DSD) recognize the essential importance of construction activity to the well-being of our community. In order to serve you during this time, we need your help! To ensure that permits and inspections are completed efficiently- and most importantly, safely– please read the messages below. Thank you! Important inspection safety update: Click here to review our modified operations policy for inspections. Online permitting is easy! You can now apply for any type of permit online through the Development Portal, as well as submit revisions and amendments, check permit status, pick up plan review comments and approved permits and schedule inspections. Use the “All other permit types” button on the Development Portal! Finally, a few reminders: DSD’s physical location is closed to the public. There are bins to drop off and pick up paper plans and permits if absolutely necessary. Permits submitted using the Development Portal will be prioritized for processing and routed for staff review more quickly. Customers may call and email staff as usual. Our main number is 828-259-5846. Please have patience with us, as there may be a higher-than-normal call volume. Additional contact information is available on this page. Staff remain available for pre-construction and early assistance meetings by remote video conference. Use the buttons on the Development Portal to sign up. Please check the DSD home page often for updates! https://www.ashevillenc.gov/department/development-services

Asheville Development Services Department to continue business, but will close doors Hello, we want to inform you of the latest news from the Development Services Department regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. The City recognizes the essential nature of construction activity and its impact on the lives of our community. We are continuing to do business, but with significant changes. First, the Department’s physical location at 161 S. Charlotte Street will be closed to the public indefinitely starting Tuesday, March 17. All inspections will take place as scheduled, but with social distancing precautions. Customers are encouraged to submit permit applications or other requests electronically using the Development Portal. We will make other online options available very soon. Customers may drop off paper plans when necessary at the building. A drop-off box will be made available at the north entrance of the building. You may call and email staff as usual. Our main number is 828-259-5846. Additional contact information is available on this page.  Please have patience with us, as there may be a higher-than-normal call volume. Please check our home page often for updates!

Old Europe downtown will offer a free breakfast pastry and juice to any school-aged child from 7 a.m.-noon.

The door will be open for walk-in or call for curbside pickup, said an employee at the store.

“We hope this can help our community and reduce any struggles of replacing a school meal,” said the owners on Facebook. 13 Broadway St., 828-255-5999.

White Duck Taco Shop: One free regular priced taco for school-age children per day, Monday-Friday for lunch or dinner.

Baked Pie Company: Brown bag lunches will be available for school-age children, Tuesday-Saturday. Available at the Arden location, 4 Long Shoals Road from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Call ahead for curbside pickup: 828-333-4366.

Biscuit Head Biltmore: This popular biscuit shop has shifted to take-out only at its Biltmore location, with the request that customers call in orders. The West and South Asheville locations are now closed.  Call 828-505-3449. Pick up at 417 Biltmore Ave., suite 4F.

ConoSur: This Mills River restaurant will serve one free burger and fries to kids while schools are closed. Children have to be present. This restaurant has shifted to takeout only. 4195 Haywood Road, Mills River. www.conosurasheville.com. 828-513-1731.

Strada Italiano: Now through the end of March, this restaurant will offer a free slice of cheese or pepperoni pizza to grade-school students during weekday lunch.

The offer is available for curbside service only. The restaurant opens at noon. Call 828-348-8448 to order. 27 Broadway St.

Copper River Grill: Through April 3, this restaurant offers a complimentary lunch for school-aged children from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Order anything from the kids’ menu, no purchase necessary. 1302 Hendersonville Road. Call ahead: 828-210-8999.

Sand Hill Kitchen: Call 828-633-6868 to request a free bagged lunch. Lunches include peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, an apple, house-fried chips and pickles. Pick up in the drive thru at 491 Sardis Road.

Pescado’s Burritos: This Brevard restaurant offers free tacos for kids in need while schools are closed.

“If you or someone you know has children who may go hungry without a meal please come by and grab a taco, with chips and salsa,” they posted on social media. “No questions asked.”

The restaurant is asking diners to “pay it forward by and donating what you can spare. We can’t do this ourselves, the whole community needs to come together during this time of need.” 265 N Broad St., Brevard 828-884-5559.

It is very important for donors to continue donating in the weeks and months ahead in order to maintain an adequate local blood supply. If you are feeling healthy and well, please make an appointment before donating so we can maintain the proper social distancing. The safety of our donors and staff is our top priority!

According to experts, outdoors might not be much safer as far as this fast-moving virus is concerned. Maintaining a distance of at least 6 feet from others, no matter indoors or outdoors, is the recommended practice during this pandemic.

 the Blue Ridge Parkway closed its year-round Visitor Center in Asheville, at Milepost 384 near the U.S. 74A entrance, out of safety concerns for staff, volunteers and visitors.

“Other year-round facilities on the parkway managed by local partners will remain open at this time,” according to a statement from the National Park Service. “These sites include the Folk Art Center at Milepost 382 and the Museum of NC Minerals at Milepost 331.”

The parkway motor road and all accessible trails will also remain open where not otherwise closed due to weather. Decisions regarding planned seasonal, spring openings, such as park campgrounds and visitor centers, will be made at a later date.

Similarly, Great Smoky Mountains National Park announced March 17 that Sugarlands, Oconaluftee, and Cades Cove visitor centers are closed until further notice for public safety.

Seasonally open park campgrounds, picnic areas, roads, trails and restroom facilities located adjacent to visitor centers remain open and accessible to the public.

Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site temporarily closed the Sandburg Home and Barn on March 17. This includes Sandburg Home tours, the park store, access to the goats and farm animals, all special events, all volunteer shifts, and in-park and off-site programs. Park grounds, except for the barn area, trails, and restrooms will remain open.

https://britishmuseum.withgoogle.com/

THE MUSEUM OF THE WORLD interactive

All nonessential, public-facing functions are closed. Essential operations — including emergency services, Public Health and Health and Human Services mandated services, sheriff’s office, permitting, solid waste, and Transportation — will continue.

“Since this is a rapidly evolving situation, we will reevaluate these changes as more information becomes available and provide more detailed information at buncombecounty.org,” said Day.

Until further notice, Buncombe is taking the following measures until further notice:

• Some nonessential employees will temporarily telecommute and/or be in emergency on-call status.
• For essential employees unable to work remotely, increasing physical working space between employees and modifying operations are among the options being evaluated.
• Public access to county facilities that house nonessential functions will be restricted or closed.
• All public libraries will be closed.
• All County parks will be closed.
• Permitting Office will be closed, but permitting remains available.

The county also offers the following online resources:

• Apply for Pistol Purchase Permit:  https://buncombeso.permitium.com/
• Pay Property Tax:  https://www.billpayit.com/buncombeconctax
• Request Birth, Death, Marriage Certificate: https://payonline.buncombecounty.org/RoD/Default.aspx
• Records: https://www.buncombecounty.org/Governing/Depts/register-of-deeds/recording/default.aspx
• Building Permits, Planning, Septic, Well, Water Testing Portal (account registration required, only “simple” permits can be applied for online):  https://onlinepermits.buncombecounty.org/CitizenAccess/Default.aspx

North Carolina Business Relief Resources

For all general questions, call Business Link North Carolina (BLNC) at 800.228.8443. BLNC staff are available Monday through Friday, 8:30 am – 4:00 pm. BLNC staff will connect your business to the appropriate organization for assistance. All inquiries will receive a response from a confidential business counselor within three (3) business days. “Se Habla Español.”

Is your business experiencing supply chain disruptions due to the impact of COVID-19?
Find the Manufacturer or Supplier your business needs at ManufacturedNC:

• This database of suppliers contains every kind of thing produced in NC. Whether you’re a manufacturer who wants to localize your supply chain or a business searching for packaging suppliers, you’ll find exactly what you’re looking for here.
• If you are a N.C. manufacturer, please register your business with ManufacturedNC here. Other businesses may be looking for you!

Looking for funding resources that can provide low interest lending options?
North Carolina is home to a variety of non-profit lenders that can provide access to the capital your business needs. Each of these organizations is a Certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI). These include (in alpha order):

Carolina Community Impact, Inc.
919.861.5321
Carolina Community Impact, Inc. provides access to credit building and asset building techniques and services through financial education and small-dollar consumer loans.

Carolina Small Business Development Fund
(formerly known as The Support Center)
919.803.1437
Founded in 1990 to promote economic opportunity for all, the Carolina Small Business Development Fund is passionate about supporting small businesses. Because those who go into business for themselves should
never be left by themselves. Offices are located across the state.

N.C. Community Development Initiative
919.828.5655
Initiative Capital, the N.C. Community Development Initiative’s lending arm, provides strategic lending and investment for community economic developers and businesses that create jobs, promote economic growth
and facilitate the development of affordable housing and community revitalization, particularly in low-resource areas of the state.

Self-Help Credit Union
Lending Office: 800.476.7428
Business Loan Webform
Self-Help’s mission is to create and protect ownership and economic opportunity for all. They do this by providing responsible financial services; lending to individuals, small businesses and nonprofits; developing real estate; and promoting fair financial practices. Branch locations are in Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia.

Thread Capital
919.212.4950
[email protected]
Launched in June 2018 by the N.C. Rural Center, Thread Capital gives N.C.’s small businesses and entrepreneurs access to the resources they need to thrive. Thread Capital provides small business loans up
to $50,000 to traditionally underserved entrepreneurs in North Carolina. Thread Capital also provides disaster recovery loans up to $250,000. Rapid Recovery loans provide immediate cash to businesses to keep
their doors open in the aftermath of a natural disaster. Resilient Recovery loans are designed to help small businesses be better prepared for future disasters.

Do you need business counseling services, including layoff aversion strategies?

Business Edge Services
919.814.0400 or Toll Free: 800.562.6333 (Choose Option 2 – Business Services)
[email protected]
Business Edge is a series of layoff aversion strategies and activities designed to help North Carolina employers prevent or minimize job losses. Through Business Edge, workforce partners collaborate with
business leaders to assess the needs of, and options for, “at-risk” firms, and to deliver services that address those needs.

Small Business and Technology Development Center
919.715.7272 or Toll-Free: 800.258.0862
The Small Business and Technology Development Center provides management counseling and educational services to small and mid-sized businesses, including those in distress. Most of the SBTDC’s services are free of charge, and all are confidential. Offices are located across the state.

Small Business Center Network
Find your local office at a community college.
The Small Business Center Network is here to assist you and your business with resources and assistance related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The SBCN works in partnership with Federal, State and Local organizations to provide the information and strategies to help your business move forward. Offices are across the state in your local community colleges.

Do you need to file an Unemployment Insurance claim?

N.C. Division of Employment Security
888.737.0259
If you have lost your job or been laid off, file an Unemployment Insurance (UI) claim. If you are not eligible for UI benefits, the business owner and/or employee may be eligible for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA). DUA is a federal program that provides temporary payments to people in a federally declared disaster area whose employment has been lost or interrupted as a direct result of the disaster. Business owners that are self-employed, farmers, or commercial fishermen, who are unemployed as a direct result of the disaster may be eligible.

Looking for other helpful government resources?

N.C. Dept. of Health and Human Services: COVID-19 Recommendations for Businesses and Employers

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Interim Guidance for Businesses and Employers

U.S. Small Business Administration: Coronavirus (COVID-19): Small Business Guidance & Loan Resources (Please note: North Carolina has not received a federal disaster designation yet.)

Kick off spring in the mountains at the 23rd annual French Broad River Festival.  It’s part outdoor adventure, part music festival with whitewater rafting, biking, hiking, kid’s village, camping, great music, and much more.  Painter John, a popular FBRF musician, compares the atmosphere to “a big potluck at your best friend’s house”.  If you’ve been you know . . . what better way to enjoy spring in these mountains?

$120 online by 3/31/20
$125 online by 4/30/20
$140 at gate
$65 Saturday only
$45 whitewater rafting

Get Growing! Thankfully during this time of social distancing, we don’t need to distance from the garden or farm. Here are some resources to help: Gardening Basics Ask Ruth Gardening Blog Series Ask Tom Farming Blog Series Participate in our Online Spring Gardening Series Workshop More Resources for Growers & Consumers during Covid 19 Visit Our Covid 19 Resource Page

• Henderson County Department of Public Health
• NC Department of Health and Human Services
• Centers for Disease Control
• World Health Organization

Video Table of Contents

Audio Table of Contents

Beginning March 18, the Meals On the Bus mobile feeding site will operate its traditional summer route, stopping at six neighborhoods on the following schedule:

• King Creek: 10:30-10:55 a.m.
• Dodd Meadows: 11:05-11:30 a.m.
• Shorty Collins: 11:40 a.m.-12:05 p.m.
• Leisure Lane: 12:15-12:35 p.m.
• Sugarloaf Apartments: 12:55-1:20 p.m.
• Conner Creek Mobile Home Park: 1:35-2 p.m.

Families who lack transportation should contact their child’s school so HCPS staff can deliver meals to their children.

 The Bob Moog Foundation announced today that it will temporarily close the Moogseum, located in downtown Asheville, NC, until March 31, 2020. The closure comes in response to a call for Americans to practice social distancing to help “flatten the curve” of an anticipated widespread Coronavirus outbreak.

“Given the critical importance of early self-isolation in stemming the spread of COVID-19, we believe it is our moral imperative to protect our staff, as well as our visitors and our community by temporarily closing the Moogseum to the public,” stated Executive Director Michelle Moog-Koussa. “During this time, the work of the Bob Moog Foundation will continue, with our staff working remotely to advance our projects. While the considerations around the spread of the virus remain fluid, we will continue to reassess when we will  reopen the Moogseum.”

The decision to close the Moogseum comes with considerable financial ramifications. During this time the Foundation encourages supporting its work through donations or a variety of other means, explained here: http://bit.ly/BMFWaysToSupport.

The Moogseum, which opened on May 23, 2019, is an interactive facility which brings the legacy of synthesizer pioneer Bob Moog alive for people of all ages to experience. It is the hallmark project of the Bob Moog Foundation, representing the convergence of its work in education and archive preservation.

We want your input! Name that Creek is a RiverLink program that connects communities with local unnamed streams through naming campaigns. There is a small unnamed stream that runs through a wooded area between Walton Street Park and the AB Tech campus, and drains into the French Broad River. We need your help in picking an official name for it! Click on the link below to share your input. Voting ends Friday, March 27!

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc26N7Q8o9r9iyk-VLqvvA9fi0LegijJO_LTrgdkLoWt2bH_Q/viewform?vc=0&c=0&w=1

In compliance with a directive from Bishop Jose McLoughlin, all worship services are cancelled through March in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Please stay safe.

We are asking fans to hold onto their tickets, as they will be valid for the rescheduled performance date as soon as they’re announced.  

We understand that there is uncertainty for you as you wait for replacement shows to be scheduled and to determine whether it will work out for all the previous buyers to attend. If you are able to hold onto purchased concert ticket and be patient with us as tours work through this large volume of rescheduling, it will allow venues like us to survive being closed for an extended duration while we have no new streams of bar, concessions or ticket revenue.

We want our customers to know that the Orange Peel, like many Asheville’s venues, is a locally owned, locally run small business that employees over 50 local workers at a living wage during normal business operation. Our plan and hope is that we will be able to weather this difficult time, and come out stronger for it on the other end, when we can again be together, enjoying live music. COVID-19 and the resulting bans on crowd gatherings has had and will have a massive financial impact on our business, and every other business in the live events and performance arts sector. We are trying to keep as many of our staff employed as we can while trying to remain strong and sustainable in the interim weeks and months that we are closed.

We appreciate your patience and ongoing support of small businesses and venues like ours as we navigate this unprecedented situation. Please keep supporting each other and our local small businesses. Together, we’ll get through this!

XO,
The Peel

We really can’t remember a time when we’ve seen the entire community come together like it has over the past week. We are so incredibly honored and humbled to be working alongside each of you as we navigate these difficult times.

Hands On Asheville-Buncombe is playing a critical role in the COVID-19 community-wide response efforts; serving as the community hub for volunteering around this crisis. We are working daily with partners, government agencies, businesses and organizations, and individuals; identifying community needs and responding through the power of volunteerism.

We’ve set up our online portal to serve as an all-encompassing inventory of community-wide volunteer needs that address relief efforts. We have one simple ask of you today, sign up to receive COVID-19 specific volunteer opportunities (both in-person and virtual). This unprecedented situation calls for an unprecedented response, sign up today!

To stay up-to-date on the latest COVID-19 news, frequently visit United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County’s COVID-19 page.

Early Education Home-Days:  Socially Distanced But Still Connected

Even during social distancing, families and their early learners benefit from high-quality early education.

Like so many families in our community that are practicing social distancing and are fortunate to have the ability to do so, I am working from home.  As early educators, we know very well the struggles of working from home while having little ones at your side.  Verner staff are working remotely and supporting Verner families that are now practicing “home-days” while center-based care is suspended.

Some observations about home-days:

Early educators speak frequently about the importance of trusting connections and relationships and their importance for the development of children’s social-emotional intelligence and foundations for life-long learning.  This is true for both children and adults! During these days of increased isolation, Verner’s early educators have all been asking what can we do to support families so home-days feel good for everyone and our community remains connected even if we cannot all be together at school right now.

Our staff are making these home-day suggestions available to the community:

https://www.vernerearlylearning.org/covid-19.html

We have also created a YouTube site so that our children can share videos that their teachers have recorded of themselves reading stories, going on an exploratory hike, etc.:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4dZ7hot37TIK8EYzgdnBcA

Buncombe Partnership for Children has also compiled a great list of supports for families:

https://buncombepfc.org/covid19/

Our community is coming together in amazing ways to support families through this transitional period.

We hope to back serving families in center-based care soon!

Verner Center for Early Learning fosters holistic learning environments where young children and families thrive.

Verner supports over 250 families with center-based and home-based services at four locations throughout Buncombe County.  For more information please visit www.vernerearlylearning.org

https://artsandculture.google.com/project/streetviews

Explore panoramic views of famous sites in 360˚ Street View tours.

These are unprecedented times for the YMCA, the nation, and the world. As the coronavirus pandemic continues to evolve, the YMCA of Western North Carolina is adapting to adjust operations. Effective Monday, March 16, all YMCA of WNC centers will close to the public for at least two weeks. These locations are the Asheville YMCA, Black Mountain YMCA, Corpening Memorial YMCA, Ferguson Family YMCA, Hendersonville Family YMCA, Reuter Family YMCA, Woodfin YMCA, YMCA at Mission Pardee Health Campus, and YMCA Youth Services Center at Beaverdam. All YMCA programs, including wellness programs, youth sports, and swim lessons, are also suspended. “The YMCA has a strong history of adapting to meet our community’s needs,” said President and CEO Paul Vest. “During this time of need, we are working with community partners to support our neighbors and to help them stay healthy in spirit, mind, and body.” Emergency child care programs Some parents must work and cannot stay home. We are here for them. Because the majority of our afterschool programs take place in schools that will be closed for the next two weeks, we are not able to run those programs. The Y will not charge families for afterschool care while schools are closed. Any payments that were made in advance have been credited to future weeks when our afterschool program resumes. We are in discussions with county emergency management officials, and are preparing to offer child care to healthcare providers and first responders in our centers while schools are closed. We are supporting our afterschool families by sending daily emails with fun activities, including active play ideas (scavenger hunts, kids yoga, kids Zumba and more), character development work, and STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) projects for all ages. To help us assess community child care needs, we encourage area parents to complete this brief survey. Ensuring food security Starting March 16, our mobile food markets will hand out prepackaged bags for our neighbors to pick up at scheduled market sites. As always, there’s no charge for this service, and no questions are asked. We are also working with local school systems to deliver food to children in need. Starting Monday, March 16, we will serve packaged take-home dinners at Oakley, Estes, Black Mountain, Pisgah, West Buncombe, and Weaverville from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. alongside Buncombe County Schools lunch service. If anyone is quarantined and needs food resources, they can reach out to 828 775 7081 for assistance. Maintaining connections We realize this is an uncertain and anxious time, and that our members and participants depend on us for programs that support their health and well-being. Many of our evidenced-based health intervention classes, such as our Diabetes Prevention Program, are being held virtually. We are also pleased to offer our members access to a variety of free online workouts and group exercise classes to help them stay fit during this time of social distancing. These options offer high-quality workouts via TV, computer, tablet, and smartphone: MOSSA Move is free to Y members for 60 days. Y360 group exercise classes are also free to members for a limited time. “The Y is the leading nonprofit committed to strengthening community by connecting all people to their potential, purpose, and each other,” said Vest. “We have received an incredibly supportive response from our members and the community, with many members deciding to continue their membership dues to help us ensure vital services that preserve and protect community.” Those who need assistance with membership may call the Y Business Center at 828 210 5910. Providing emergency relief The community need for child care and food security is great. Please help us continue to provide these essential services by donating to our Community Emergency Response Fund. To volunteer to provide these services to the community, please see our volunteer signup page.