The future of the College / Patton Complete Street Project will be determined at the October 10th City Council meeting. It’s critical that supporters of safer downtown streets show to support the project as Council remains divided on continued investment in downtown complete streets. If you’re interested in attending or supporting the advocacy efforts on this project, please complete the College / Patton Advocacy Form and an AoB representative will follow up with details

Do you work in downtown Asheville? If so, Buncombe County’s expanded affordable parking program could save you hundreds of your hard-earned dollars. The program already includes 150 spots at the Coxe Avenue parking deck (located at 11 Sears Alley) for a discounted price of $40 per month. After research and public input, the County is excited to offer an additional 50 spots at the College Street parking deck (located at 164 College Street, across from the judicial complex) for $40 per month. This initiative, focused on service industry and retail workers, is now taking applications.

The expansion of the Affordable Parking Program comes after nearly 800 survey respondents shared their support and echoed the need for the program. To help meet that demand, the County is now offering a total of 200 discounted spots for downtown workers. “We’ve heard a lot of positive feedback, and it’s helping a lot of people. Behind housing, transportation is next highest expense for many people… so providing people in the workforce with an affordable way to get close to where they work is really very valuable,” said Commission Chair Brownie Newman.

To be eligible, you need to work in Downtown Asheville and make 80% area median income (AMI), which is less than $22.88 per hour or $3,967 per month. Applications are now open for the program, and it offers 75 spots at Coxe Avenue and 50 at College Street. If you think you’re eligible, then please go ahead and apply.

Did you know MANNA FoodBank provides more than 58,000 meals a day in Western North Carolina? MANNA works in partnership with the Buncombe County Community Connectors to provide much-needed food to 12 locations in under-resourced areas throughout our community. Donations will be collected for two weeks at area libraries and select public-facing County buildings beginning September 25 and ending on October 7.

MANNA served over 155,000 people in June 2023, which was another alarming high in a months-long trend of tens of thousands of people across the mountains needing food support each week. March 2023 marked the end of the pandemic-era SNAP benefit expansion, resulting in a new peak that has since continued to climb.

Buncombe County is asking the community to pitch in to help meet this need by dropping food items by one of our 12 Buncombe County Public Libraries or public-facing buildings.

You can drop off donations at the following locations around Buncombe County (look for the collection bins and signs):

• Public libraries
  • Black Mountain
  • East Asheville
  • Enka Candler
  • Fairview
  • Leicester
  • North Asheville
  • Oakley/South Asheville
  • Pack Memorial
  • Skyland/South Buncombe
  • Swannanoa
  • Weaverville
  • West Asheville
• Register of Deeds at 205 College St.
• Tax at 94 Cox Ave.
• HHS building at 40 Coxe Ave.
• Elections at 59 Woodfin
• Family Justice Center at 35 Woodfin
• Permits and Inspections at 30 Valley St.
• County administration building at 200 College St.

MANNA’s most-needed items include: 

• Canned meats (beef, chicken, tuna)
• Peanut butter (plastic jars only)
• Dried/canned beans (pork and beans, pinto, kidney, black)
• Hearty soups (pop-top cans preferred)
• Meals in a box or can (beef stew, chili, mac & cheese)
• Canned fruit (fruit cocktail, raisins, apple sauce)
• Canned vegetables (green beans, carrots, greens)
• Cereals and grains (rice, pasta, cereal in a box or bag)
• Fruit and vegetable juices
• Dry milk (instant non-fat)

Thank you to everyone for helping us with this initiative to support children and families throughout our community.

Make a donation of $100 or more to GreenWorks by October 31st and receive a $10 gift card and a treat from Ware. In order to receive your gift, you must show your receipt to a Ware employee in-store. No purchase from Ware necessary. Gift must be collected by November 15th, 2023. Valid for donations of $100 or more made between September 27 – October 31, 2023. Visit Ware Online

More than half a million low-income, uninsured North Carolinians will gain access to comprehensive health coverage when Medicaid expansion launches on December 1, 2023.

Pisgah Legal is here to help people in Western North Carolina enroll in Medicaid and understand their options for coverage. Pisgah Legal has spent a decade advocating for this change and is proud to help make it a reality for people in this region.

“Medicaid expansion is going to save lives,” said Chief Operations Officer Jaclyn Kiger. “This is a momentous occasion and Pisgah Legal is thrilled to be in a position to help guide people through this process.”

Kiger continued: “Each and every person has a right to health care. Pisgah Legal Services will continue to advocate and strive for a future where everyone can access the care they deserve.”

Pisgah Legal is poised to help people start the Medicaid enrollment process as soon as expansion launches. Pisgah Legal’s certified Navigators help local people find quality, affordable health insurance plans.

Pisgah Legal also helps people who have had their Medicaid terminated during the unwinding period that began in April 2023. If you or someone you know has lost coverage, Pisgah Legal can help you determine if you’re eligible for a plan on the Healthcare.gov Marketplace and can help you access legal resources. Pisgah Legal’s NC Medicaid Ombudsman Program can help current Medicaid beneficiaries who are experiencing problems with their plans.

To make an appointment for free help enrolling in Medicaid or exploring your options, visit http://www.pisgahlegal.org/health or call 828-210-3404.

If you’ve been struggling to complete a septic system repair at your home, Buncombe County may be able to help homeowners with the cost of the project through a unique grant opportunity. The Septic Repair Assistance Program (SRP) provides financial assistance to repair failing septic systems for qualifying homeowners who do not meet the income limit of 80% of Buncombe County Area Median Income ($64,250 for a family of four). Applications are accepted continuously until further notice.

Previous program participants report that the application process is easy and agree that the program benefits are important as it can be expensive to repair septic systems. If you think you may qualify, please call our staff at (828) 250-5360 to learn more about this opportunity and to see if you qualify.

To apply for financial assistance, you must:

• Be a resident of Buncombe County and own and occupy your home.
• Obtain a septic system repair permit from Buncombe County Environmental Health. To request a repair permit, you must submit an application to Environmental Health. Once the application is received, an Environmental Health Specialist will make a site visit and evaluate the existing system, determine repair options, and issue a repair permit.
• Obtain bids from at least three septic system contractors. Once the repair permit has been issued, you are responsible for obtaining bids from at least three contractors. A bid is an estimate of how much the repair will cost. We recommend that you request bids from more than three contractors to ensure that you receive at least three of the bids in a timely manner.
• Complete a Grant Application form. This form requests specific information needed to determine grant eligibility, including verification of income.
• Submit the Grant Application and copies of three contractor bids to Buncombe County Permits & Inspections, 30 Valley St., Asheville, NC 28801 or [email protected].

For more information, please see the attached document. Applications will be accepted until further notice.

The future of the College / Patton Complete Street Project will be determined at the October 10th City Council meeting. It’s critical that supporters of safer downtown streets show to support the project as Council remains divided on continued investment in downtown complete streets. If you’re interested in attending or supporting the advocacy efforts on this project, please complete the College / Patton Advocacy Form and an AoB representative will follow up with details

Do you work in downtown Asheville? If so, Buncombe County’s expanded affordable parking program could save you hundreds of your hard-earned dollars. The program already includes 150 spots at the Coxe Avenue parking deck (located at 11 Sears Alley) for a discounted price of $40 per month. After research and public input, the County is excited to offer an additional 50 spots at the College Street parking deck (located at 164 College Street, across from the judicial complex) for $40 per month. This initiative, focused on service industry and retail workers, is now taking applications.

The expansion of the Affordable Parking Program comes after nearly 800 survey respondents shared their support and echoed the need for the program. To help meet that demand, the County is now offering a total of 200 discounted spots for downtown workers. “We’ve heard a lot of positive feedback, and it’s helping a lot of people. Behind housing, transportation is next highest expense for many people… so providing people in the workforce with an affordable way to get close to where they work is really very valuable,” said Commission Chair Brownie Newman.

To be eligible, you need to work in Downtown Asheville and make 80% area median income (AMI), which is less than $22.88 per hour or $3,967 per month. Applications are now open for the program, and it offers 75 spots at Coxe Avenue and 50 at College Street. If you think you’re eligible, then please go ahead and apply.

Did you know MANNA FoodBank provides more than 58,000 meals a day in Western North Carolina? MANNA works in partnership with the Buncombe County Community Connectors to provide much-needed food to 12 locations in under-resourced areas throughout our community. Donations will be collected for two weeks at area libraries and select public-facing County buildings beginning September 25 and ending on October 7.

MANNA served over 155,000 people in June 2023, which was another alarming high in a months-long trend of tens of thousands of people across the mountains needing food support each week. March 2023 marked the end of the pandemic-era SNAP benefit expansion, resulting in a new peak that has since continued to climb.

Buncombe County is asking the community to pitch in to help meet this need by dropping food items by one of our 12 Buncombe County Public Libraries or public-facing buildings.

You can drop off donations at the following locations around Buncombe County (look for the collection bins and signs):

• Public libraries
  • Black Mountain
  • East Asheville
  • Enka Candler
  • Fairview
  • Leicester
  • North Asheville
  • Oakley/South Asheville
  • Pack Memorial
  • Skyland/South Buncombe
  • Swannanoa
  • Weaverville
  • West Asheville
• Register of Deeds at 205 College St.
• Tax at 94 Cox Ave.
• HHS building at 40 Coxe Ave.
• Elections at 59 Woodfin
• Family Justice Center at 35 Woodfin
• Permits and Inspections at 30 Valley St.
• County administration building at 200 College St.

MANNA’s most-needed items include: 

• Canned meats (beef, chicken, tuna)
• Peanut butter (plastic jars only)
• Dried/canned beans (pork and beans, pinto, kidney, black)
• Hearty soups (pop-top cans preferred)
• Meals in a box or can (beef stew, chili, mac & cheese)
• Canned fruit (fruit cocktail, raisins, apple sauce)
• Canned vegetables (green beans, carrots, greens)
• Cereals and grains (rice, pasta, cereal in a box or bag)
• Fruit and vegetable juices
• Dry milk (instant non-fat)

Thank you to everyone for helping us with this initiative to support children and families throughout our community.

Extension Master Gardener^SM 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.

Make a donation of $100 or more to GreenWorks by October 31st and receive a $10 gift card and a treat from Ware. In order to receive your gift, you must show your receipt to a Ware employee in-store. No purchase from Ware necessary. Gift must be collected by November 15th, 2023. Valid for donations of $100 or more made between September 27 – October 31, 2023. Visit Ware Online

More than half a million low-income, uninsured North Carolinians will gain access to comprehensive health coverage when Medicaid expansion launches on December 1, 2023.

Pisgah Legal is here to help people in Western North Carolina enroll in Medicaid and understand their options for coverage. Pisgah Legal has spent a decade advocating for this change and is proud to help make it a reality for people in this region.

“Medicaid expansion is going to save lives,” said Chief Operations Officer Jaclyn Kiger. “This is a momentous occasion and Pisgah Legal is thrilled to be in a position to help guide people through this process.”

Kiger continued: “Each and every person has a right to health care. Pisgah Legal Services will continue to advocate and strive for a future where everyone can access the care they deserve.”

Pisgah Legal is poised to help people start the Medicaid enrollment process as soon as expansion launches. Pisgah Legal’s certified Navigators help local people find quality, affordable health insurance plans.

Pisgah Legal also helps people who have had their Medicaid terminated during the unwinding period that began in April 2023. If you or someone you know has lost coverage, Pisgah Legal can help you determine if you’re eligible for a plan on the Healthcare.gov Marketplace and can help you access legal resources. Pisgah Legal’s NC Medicaid Ombudsman Program can help current Medicaid beneficiaries who are experiencing problems with their plans.

To make an appointment for free help enrolling in Medicaid or exploring your options, visit http://www.pisgahlegal.org/health or call 828-210-3404.

If you’ve been struggling to complete a septic system repair at your home, Buncombe County may be able to help homeowners with the cost of the project through a unique grant opportunity. The Septic Repair Assistance Program (SRP) provides financial assistance to repair failing septic systems for qualifying homeowners who do not meet the income limit of 80% of Buncombe County Area Median Income ($64,250 for a family of four). Applications are accepted continuously until further notice.

Previous program participants report that the application process is easy and agree that the program benefits are important as it can be expensive to repair septic systems. If you think you may qualify, please call our staff at (828) 250-5360 to learn more about this opportunity and to see if you qualify.

To apply for financial assistance, you must:

• Be a resident of Buncombe County and own and occupy your home.
• Obtain a septic system repair permit from Buncombe County Environmental Health. To request a repair permit, you must submit an application to Environmental Health. Once the application is received, an Environmental Health Specialist will make a site visit and evaluate the existing system, determine repair options, and issue a repair permit.
• Obtain bids from at least three septic system contractors. Once the repair permit has been issued, you are responsible for obtaining bids from at least three contractors. A bid is an estimate of how much the repair will cost. We recommend that you request bids from more than three contractors to ensure that you receive at least three of the bids in a timely manner.
• Complete a Grant Application form. This form requests specific information needed to determine grant eligibility, including verification of income.
• Submit the Grant Application and copies of three contractor bids to Buncombe County Permits & Inspections, 30 Valley St., Asheville, NC 28801 or [email protected].

For more information, please see the attached document. Applications will be accepted until further notice.