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What are Neighborhood Matching Grants?
The Neighborhood Matching Grants Program (NMG) helps Asheville’s neighborhood-based organizations fund various improvement projects by providing a dollar-for-dollar matching grant of up to $5,000. The program is designed to strengthen relationships between neighbors, cultivate the spirit of volunteerism, and create projects for the benefit of their communities.
The City of Asheville’s goal is to:
- Build neighborhood capacity and increase civic participation
- Empower neighborhoods to self-determine improvement projects
- Create and strengthen partnerships between the City and community groups
Who can apply?
Eligible recipients of NMG funds must meet the following requirements:
- Must represent a specific geographic location within Asheville city limits
- Completed or in the process of completing their “Neighborhood Registration Form”
- Are a neighborhood-based organization (Neighborhood Associations, Homeowners Associations, Neighborhood Coalition, and Resident Organizations in Tax Credit Funded Communities)
What types of projects can be funded?
Asheville’s Neighborhood Matching Grants program aims to fund projects or programs that produce shared benefits with the goal of improving the neighborhood’s quality of life. Any project that is submitted must meet the following criteria:
- Be achievable within 12 months on contract execution
- Occur within Asheville’s city limits
- Provide a public benefit and be accessible to all members of the community
- Be planned, organized and implemented by community members
- Must provide a dollar-for-dollar match
- At least 50% of the match must be matched in volunteer hours
- Cash, in-kind donation of goods or services can be used to make up the other 50% match
Neighborhoods are encouraged to submit creative project ideas. There are a variety of projects that can be supported with NMG including: landscaping, murals. community art, cultural festivals, traffic calming, public safety, marketing and branding, organizational development and more.
How can your neighborhood apply?
Applications will be open for submission March 27 – May 27, 2023.
You can apply for a Neighborhood Matching Grant by following these steps:
- Confirm your neighborhood’s eligibility.
- Review the NMG Program Policies.
- Select your neighborhood’s project.
- Submit a completed application.
- Register as a Vendor with the City of Asheville.
Have questions?
eer hours, in-kind donation of goods or services)\
Calendar of Events
Upcoming events and things to do in Asheville, NC. Below is a list of events for festivals, concerts, art exhibitions, group meetups and more.
Interested in adding an event to our calendar? Please click the green “Post Your Event” button below.
Food Scraps Drop Off
The City of Asheville, in partnership with Buncombe County and the Natural Resources Defense Council, is offering a FREE Food Scrap Drop-Off program in
two locations for all Buncombe County residents. This organic matter will be collected and turned into good clean compost, keeping it OUT of our landfill and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Register for Food Scraps Drop Off
Need a handy kitchen countertop food scrap bin? Let us know on the registration form! We’ll be having bin giveaways at city and county facilities and would love to give you one.
Locations
Stephens-Lee Recreation Center “Food Scrap Shed” next to the Community Garden on the North side of the parking lot
30 Washington Carver Avenue, Asheville
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- Monday – Friday, 7 a.m. – 6 p.m.
- Saturday, 8 a.m. – 2 p.m.
- Sunday, 12 – 4 p.m.
Murphy Oakley Community Center and Library – “Food Scrap Bin Shelters” on the east side of the parking lot
749 Fairview Road, Asheville
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- Dawn – Dusk
West Asheville Library – “Food Scrap Bin Shelters” on the south side of the building
942 Haywood Road, Asheville
Library open hours
Buncombe County Landfill – Convenience Center85 Panther Branch Road, Alexander
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- Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
- Saturday, 8 a.m. – 12:30 pm
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Join us this April and May as members of the Blue Ridge Audubon Society guide us on a bird-watching excursion around the Beaver Lake Bird Sanctuary! Binoculars are available for checkout at the North Asheville Library, but folks are welcome to bring their own! This event will be held rain or shine.
- Give gently-used treasured new life while browsing Stephens-Lee Community Center’s Community Yard Sale on May 20 from 8 a.m.-12 p.m. You can even sell some of your own treasures for $5 per table (limited space, advance registration required to sell).
Swannanoa Community Yard Sale: 8 a.m.-1 p.m., Ingles parking lot, 2299 US 70. Seller spaces $15 in advance, $20 day of sale. Bring your own tables. To reserve your space, call 828-515-1840 or email [email protected]. Visit www.SwannanoaFANS.org. FREE TO ATTEND.
Friends and Neighbors of Swannanoa will make every attempt to hold 2 yard sales each year. The spring sale is usually sometime in April. The fall sale is generally late September/ early October. We will announce the date and begin taking reservations 2 weeks prior to the date. We make many efforts to announce the call for sellers, as well as publicity to bring in buyers. These events are intended to bring community together and used as a fundraiser for Swannanoa Community Projects.
Seller spaces $15 in advance, $20 day of sale. Bring your own tables. To reserve your space, call 828-515-1840 or email [email protected]. Visit www.SwannanoaFANS.org.
Episcopal Church Women (ECW) will host “The Bazaar at St. John in the
Wilderness” on Saturday, May 20, 2023 from 8:30am to 1pm inside the Parish Hall and grounds on
the church campus. Fine items, artwork, jewelry, glassware, furniture, linens, silver, plants and more
will highlight the fundraiser with proceeds assisting local charities involving women, children and
families.
Early bird shoppers are welcome at 7:30am with a $10 entry fee. There is no fee to shop inside the
Parish Hall from 8:30 until 1pm.
Spring has sprung and there is no better time than Saturday, May 20th to shop the Asheville Habitat ReStore for all your home and garden needs. Whether you’re tackling a DIY project, updating your décor, or reimagining your outdoor living space, be sure to swing by the Spring Sale at the Asheville Habitat ReStore at 31 Meadow Rd. on Saturday, May 20th between 9am and 6pm to save big. Everything – building supplies, appliances, lighting, furniture, housewares, and more – is 25% off, for one day only. Discount not applicable in the Weaverville ReStore.
Food Scraps Drop Off
The City of Asheville, in partnership with Buncombe County and the Natural Resources Defense Council, is offering a FREE Food Scrap Drop-Off program in
two locations for all Buncombe County residents. This organic matter will be collected and turned into good clean compost, keeping it OUT of our landfill and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Register for Food Scraps Drop Off
Need a handy kitchen countertop food scrap bin? Let us know on the registration form! We’ll be having bin giveaways at city and county facilities and would love to give you one.
Locations
West Asheville Library – “Food Scrap Bin Shelters” on the south side of the building
942 Haywood Road, Asheville
Library open hours
Stephens-Lee Recreation Center “Food Scrap Shed” next to the Community Garden on the North side of the parking lot
30 Washington Carver Avenue, Asheville
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- Monday – Friday, 7 a.m. – 6 p.m.
- Saturday, 8 a.m. – 2 p.m.
- Sunday, 12 – 4 p.m.
Murphy Oakley Community Center and Library – “Food Scrap Bin Shelters” on the east side of the parking lot
749 Fairview Road, Asheville
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- Dawn – Dusk
Buncombe County Landfill – Convenience Center85 Panther Branch Road, Alexander
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- Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
- Saturday, 8 a.m. – 12:30 pm
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TFAC invites all artists: painters, sculptors, writers, performers & more — to a casual weekly drop-in gathering on Saturday mornings at 9 AM to share your works in progress, alert others, and chat about art and what’s happening in your community.
The first weekly Coffee is Saturday, August 20 at 9 am.
No RSVP needed, just drop by!
Free parking available on Melrose Avenue, behind and alongside TFAC.
Join us for the 47th annual Clean Streams Day, to celebrate the birthday of local author and environmental advocate Wilma Dykeman and to honor her legacy and contributions to the French Broad watershed.
We will paddle an in-town section of the French Broad from Amboy Rd to 704 Riverside Drive, removing litter and enjoying the river. All gear including kayaks, canoes, life vests, and cleanup supplies will be provided.
A shuttle will be provided by French Broad Outfitters from the takeout to the afterparty at Wrong Way Campground for food and beverages.
Volunteers must be 13 or older for river cleanups.
Learn more about Wilma Dykeman here: https://www.wilmadykemanlegacy.org/
Need to know
Park: Please do not park at Wrong Way Campground or Cultivate Climbing. There are small lots along Amboy Road and parking at Carrier Park that can easily be walked to and from. Look for GreenWorks near the Amboy Road River Park put-in across from Cultivate.
Wear: lightweight clothing – bathing suits, shirts, tshirts/ tank tops, quickdry materials – no heavy materials like jeans. No heavy footwear or flip flops – old sneakers or water shoes are best. Sun protection and other personal items as needed. We’ll have some dry bags for keys and valuables, but most of those items should be left in vehicles or at home.
Eat a good lunch or snack before you arrive – we will have food and drinks to celebrate with after the cleanup. You may also want to bring a towel and change of clothes/shoes for afterwards.
Join Atelier Maison & Co. and Show & Tell Pop Up Shop for the monthly Makers Market in the Asheville Design District this Saturday, May 20!
The Makers Market is a monthly market of art & design, featuring vendors and artisans selling housewares, vintage clothing, original art, handmade crafts, fair trade imports, and more – happening on the third Saturday of each month at Atelier Maison & Co.
Shop from local artisans and check out Asheville arts and crafts. Each month, inside and outside the showroom of Atelier Maison & Co. you’ll find a wide variety of different artists and makers at these craft markets. We host vendors displaying everything from textiles to woodwork, fresh farmed flowers, or hand-blown glass.
From noon-5 on the third Saturday of the month, each market has dozens of vendors and hundreds of shoppers throughout the spacious grounds. The markets have a welcoming feel, often with a food truck, craft workshops, or complimentary beverages and treats for the whole family.
With roots in the Asheville Design District, Atelier Maison & Co. is the area’s home furnishings destination offering healthy, design-forward furniture, accessories, and their own exclusive line of green, envy-worthy pieces. They believe living green is not only better for the environment but essential in building a happier, healthier home.
- Race against other duos to determine the ultimate Asheville puzzle masters at Harvest House Community Center’s Team Jigsaw Puzzle Competition. Free to watch, $15 to participate (advance registration required).
Stephens-Lee has BINGO!! Small prize will be awarded to the winner of each game. Remember what happens at Bingo, stays at Bingo!!
Saturday, May 20
1:00-2:30pm
Adults
FREE
Do you have an overactive Spider Plant? Is your Aloe Plant giving you the stink eye? Maybe it’s time to mix things up! Bring any & all unwanted houseplants to the Weaverville Library in May and swap them out for something new. Houseplant Exchange is available and self serve during all open hours.
Register now at AVLREC.com as space is limited to only eight teams!
How fast can you and a friend complete a 300-piece puzzle? Race seven other teams to determine the ultimate Asheville puzzle masters. Bring some more friends to cheer you on to victory!
$15 per team, register at AVLREC.com
At 5 pm, vendors from the following organizations will be set up with information, ready to chat about all the work being done to connect folks to our wonderful natural landscapes:
Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation
Yancey Humane Society – Tails to Trails
NC High Peaks/Mount Mitchell State Park
NC Outdoor Adventure
Mountain BizWorks
Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy
The Conservancy Fund
Blue Ridge Conservancy
Hog Hollow Wood Fired Pizza will be serving delicious fare all night and the Homeplace Beer Co. taps will be flowing.Crystal Fountains Bluegrass will perform live on the Homeplace stage starting at 6:30 pm.
The free, definitive resource for finding local food and farms also features farm stories and recipes.
The 2023 Local Food Guide, ASAP’s annual free publication for finding local food and farms, hits newsstands this week. This definitive resource lists hundreds of Appalachian Grown certified farms, farmers markets, restaurants, groceries, travel destinations, and more throughout Western North Carolina and surrounding counties in Virginia, Tennessee, Georgia, and South Carolina. A digital version of the print Guide may be viewed at asapconnections.org/guide.
In addition to the listing content, the 2023 edition features stories that highlight the variety of farming across the region. Jake Puckett, of Crow Fly Farms in Marion, NC, details his passion for holistic animal management. Malcolm Banks, of Yellow Mountain Gardens in Franklin, NC, describes his mission to teach his neighbors—and the world—to grow their own food. Gwen and Jay Englebach, of Black Trumpet Farm in Leicester, NC, talk about building a business and customer relationships. Rounding out the issue are seasonal recipes from chefs at Cultura, Little Chango, The Montford, and Red Fiddle Vittles.
Find Local Food Guide copies at farmers markets, visitors centers, libraries, community centers, groceries, restaurants, and other partner businesses throughout the region. They are also available to pick up in the lobby of ASAP’s office in Asheville at 306 W. Haywood St., Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Contact ASAP if you need help locating a copy in your area.
In addition to the print Guide, ASAP maintains the online Local Food Guide at appalachiangrown.org. This database, with more than 1,400 listings, is updated throughout the year and is searchable by products, locations, activities, and more.
The 2023 Local Food Guide is made possible in part with support from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) through the Agricultural Marketing Service and Beginning Farmer Rancher Development Fund, as well as the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina and Asheville Regional Airport.
Since 2018, the Arts Build Community grant supports innovative, arts-based projects that inspire diverse groups of participants to be more active, involved, and civically-engaged by creating together. Grants range from $1,000-2,500.
Arts and culture are a fundamental part of our community. They help us connect with one another and better understand history, people, and new ideas. When people become involved in the design, creation, and upkeep of places, they develop a vested interest in using and maintaining these spaces. When neighbors have a true sense of “ownership” or connection to the places they frequent, the community becomes a better place to live, work, and visit.
Description & Eligibility
Organizations must have been in operation for at least one year and be physically located in Buncombe County. Priority is given to projects based in low-income neighborhoods and communities in need.
The arts must be centered in the proposed project. Funds may be used to cover expenses such as art supplies, professional artists’ fees and travel, space rental, advertising, marketing and publicity, website and electronic media, scripts, costumes, sets, props, music and equipment rental.
Funds are for projects taking place from July 1, 2023- June 30, 2024. This can be a reimbursement for projects occurring during this funding period that have already taken place or for projects that have not yet occurred. Projects must be completed by June 30, 2024.
The City is seeking public input on the College Patton Bike Lane Project design through an online survey. Your responses will remain anonymous and will help City staff make updates to the plan that best accommodate all needs on the corridors. Staff will collect survey responses through Tuesday, June 5, 2023, and will share input received from this survey in an update to the City Council Planning and Economic Development Committee and on the City’s project page.
This project proposes to add buffered bike lanes in the core of Downtown on College Street between Spruce Street and Pritchard Park and on Patton Avenue between Pritchard Park and Biltmore Avenue.
Goals for this project include: creating protected east-west bicycle connections downtown that would connect to the larger bicycle network and creating a safer, more inviting multimodal environment downtown for everyone including bicyclists, pedestrians, and motor vehicles (including delivery trucks).
In addition to the proposed bike lanes, this project also includes restriping high-visibility crosswalks and reconfiguring loading zones throughout the project area.
This project is supported by City Councils 2036 Vision of Transportation and Accessibility. This Vision ensures whether you drive a car, take the bus, ride a bike or walk, that getting around Asheville is easy. Public transportation should be widespread, frequent, and reliable. Sidewalks, greenways, and bike facilities can get us where we want to go safely and keep us active and healthy. This Vision ensures it is easy to live in Asheville without a car and still enjoy economic, academic, and social success.
Extension Master GardenerSM volunteers will be staffing the Helpline as indicated in the schedule below. You may send an email or leave a voicemail at any time and an Extension Master Gardener volunteer will respond during Garden Helpline hours. When emailing, please include a photo if it helps describe your garden question. Soil test kits can be picked up at the Extension office, 24/7. The kits are located in a box outside the front door.
Three ways to contact the Garden Helpline
Call 828-255-5522
Email questions and photos to [email protected]
Visit the Extension Office at 49 Mt. Carmel Road during Helpline hours, listed below.
Garden Helpline Hours
March – (starts March 6)
Monday 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 Noon
Thursday 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
April through September:
Monday 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Tuesday 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 Noon
Wednesday 12:00 Noon – 2:00 p.m.
Thursday 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
October – (ends October 26th)
Monday 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 Noon
Thursday 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
We are here to help and support you! Please contact us. We look forward to answering your gardening questions.
If you’re behind on your water bill or afraid your water might get cut off, a new resource might be able to help you. On Jan. 4, the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners approved more than $450,000 in federal funding for the Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP). The initiative is aimed at preventing water disconnections and helping reconnect drinking and wastewater services.
The LIHWAP will be administered by Buncombe County-based Eblen Charities. The nonprofit will make payments directly to utilities on behalf of qualifying households. The program is slated to run through Sept. 30, 2023 or until funds are exhausted.
Eligibility requirements
Households that currently receive Food and Nutrition Services (FNS), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) or Work First services, or those that received Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP) services from Oct. 1, 2020-Sept. 30, 2021, are automatically eligible to receive this benefit if their water services have been cut off or are in danger of being cut off.
For additional eligibility information or to apply, please contact Eblen Charities at (828) 255-3066.
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Asheville Parks & Recreation (APR) recently renovated fitness centers at Linwood Crump Shiloh and Stephens-Lee community centers – and community members can enjoy use of cardio equipment, exercise machines, free weights, open gym time, and more through June 30, 2023. During this time, APR will waive membership and daily pass fees so more people can access the necessities for a regular fitness routine. Locals can sign up online or at either community center to receive a fitness center key fob that can be scanned at either location.
“Our team is committed to creating spaces in which everyone feels welcome,” according to D. Tyrell McGirt, APR Director. “We are in the community building business. The gyms and fitness rooms at these two locations are filled with everything you’d expect from other top-notch fitness facilities and dedicated to body positivity and accessible wellness. By waiving the cost to use them for the first six months of the year, we hope more friends and neighbors will be able to connect with each other and maintain healthy lifestyles.”
Asheville Parks & Recreation (APR) recently renovated fitness centers at Linwood Crump Shiloh and Stephens-Lee community centers – and community members can enjoy use of cardio equipment, exercise machines, free weights, open gym time, and more through June 30, 2023. During this time, APR will waive membership and daily pass fees so more people can access the necessities for a regular fitness routine. Locals can sign up online or at either community center to receive a fitness center key fob that can be scanned at either location.
“Our team is committed to creating spaces in which everyone feels welcome,” according to D. Tyrell McGirt, APR Director. “We are in the community building business. The gyms and fitness rooms at these two locations are filled with everything you’d expect from other top-notch fitness facilities and dedicated to body positivity and accessible wellness. By waiving the cost to use them for the first six months of the year, we hope more friends and neighbors will be able to connect with each other and maintain healthy lifestyles.”
Food Scraps Drop Off
The City of Asheville, in partnership with Buncombe County and the Natural Resources Defense Council, is offering a FREE Food Scrap Drop-Off program in
two locations for all Buncombe County residents. This organic matter will be collected and turned into good clean compost, keeping it OUT of our landfill and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Register for Food Scraps Drop Off
Need a handy kitchen countertop food scrap bin? Let us know on the registration form! We’ll be having bin giveaways at city and county facilities and would love to give you one.
Locations
Stephens-Lee Recreation Center “Food Scrap Shed” next to the Community Garden on the North side of the parking lot
30 Washington Carver Avenue, Asheville
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- Monday – Friday, 7 a.m. – 6 p.m.
- Saturday, 8 a.m. – 2 p.m.
- Sunday, 12 – 4 p.m.
Murphy Oakley Community Center and Library – “Food Scrap Bin Shelters” on the east side of the parking lot
749 Fairview Road, Asheville
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- Dawn – Dusk
West Asheville Library – “Food Scrap Bin Shelters” on the south side of the building
942 Haywood Road, Asheville
Library open hours
Buncombe County Landfill – Convenience Center85 Panther Branch Road, Alexander
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- Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
- Saturday, 8 a.m. – 12:30 pm
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Awake and Bold is sponsoring the 2023 Town Hall on child trafficking. They work to increase awareness around child trafficking and support organizations that rescue child trafficking victims. Keynote speaker- Leigh Dundas, Human Rights Atty, Bryan Prather from Vets for Child Rescue, Shelia Dale – Hendersonville School Board, Hara Taicher – Co-founder of Awake and Bold, and more. Art Auction, Prevention Class & Panel Discussion
The Perspective Café is kicking off 2023 with a classic bang! Grab your friends and join us each Sunday from 2pm to 5pm in the Perspective Café to play an assortment of board and card games. You can even bring your own favorite games from home to share with new friends.
The Perspective Café will be offering special snacks and cocktails to savor while you play and make a memorable afternoon! Enjoy the galleries and then head up to the rooftop.
Free admission.
3rd Sundays of each month Sept-May
3:00-5:00pm
Bring the whole family for some good old-fashioned fun with traditional dance and live music! All ages are welcome, no experience necessary. Children must be accompanied by an adult. This venue is mask-encouraged.
For more information, please visit the website.
This recital, which is free and open to the public, will feature a young promising singer and it has the added
purpose of raising funds for his brother’s Memorial Fund.
David Weigel has been hailed by the San Francisco Chronicle as “heroic” and “stentorian” possessing an
“imposing mahogany voice” (Opera News). He is a recent graduate of the Ryan Opera Center at the Lyric
Opera of Chicago. On May 21, Mr. Weigel will perform art songs in several languages, opera arias and some
well-known music theatre selections.
A native of Asheville, Mr.Weigel holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Furman University. He pursued
graduate studies at UNC-Greensboro, A.J. Fletcher Opera Institute at the UNC School of the Arts, and
Doctor of Musical Arts at the University of Michigan.
“We are thrilled to present Mr. Weigel in concert and recognize that he is destined for a significant career,”
said Dewitt Tipton, Organist, Director of Music for St. John in the Wilderness and creator of Friends of
Music. “We are also pleased to be able to offer this event as a way to contribute to his brother’s Memorial
Fund through the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina.”
We cannot adequately express how much we appreciate this effort. It touches our hearts deeply, and we are
so grateful to you all,” said Larry Weigel, Eric’s and David’s father.
Donations are encouraged. Checks should be made out to St. John in the Wilderness with Eric Weigel
Memorial Fund in the memo line.