Buncombe County Wins $979,000 Grant for Swannanoa Sidewalks
Buncombe County was awarded $979,000 from the N.C. Department of Commerce Small Business Infrastructure Grant Program to repair and extend sidewalks along Whitson Avenue and through Beacon Village in Swannanoa. The funding is intended to improve pedestrian safety and support small business recovery in the town center.
Buncombe County received a $979,000 grant on December 8, 2025, from the N.C. Department of Commerce Small Business Infrastructure Grant Program to repair damaged sidewalk along Whitson Avenue and extend sidewalk through the commercial area of Beacon Village. The award comes through the Department of Commerce Rural Economic Development Division as part of a $55 million initiative established by Governor Josh Stein in partnership with the North Carolina General Assembly to support long term small business recovery across western North Carolina.
County officials said the funds will target sidewalks that are integral to Beacon Village, which local business owners describe as Swannanoa's downtown. Daniel Lancaster, owner of Short Sleeves Coffee and Swannanoa resident, said, "This is a big deal for our families, visitors, and small businesses. Beacon Village is Swannanoa's downtown, and as we rebuild, we're seeing more and more folks coming to take advantage of what makes our part of the valley so special. We all know we need more sidewalks in Swannanoa to keep people safe, and this project moves us in the right direction. As a business owner, this is very exciting, and as a dad with little ones, it's even bigger news."
The SmBIZ program provides grants of up to $1 million per project to local governments to rebuild public infrastructure that supports the daily operations of small businesses, including water, sewer, gas, telecommunications, sidewalks, and stormwater systems. In Buncombe County the project will be managed and constructed in coordination with the North Carolina Department of Transportation, a partnership county staff say will ensure technical oversight and compliance with state standards. "We're looking forward to working with the North Carolina Department of Transportation on the management and construction of this project," said Intergovernmental Affairs Economic Development Analyst E.B. Odderstol. "Improving Swannanoa’s sidewalk infrastructure will substantially contribute to the area’s recovery, revitalizing the economy and investing in the community’s future."
Under county procedures the grant award will be accepted at a future public meeting of the Board, providing a formal opportunity for public review and comment. Nearby jurisdictions also received SmBIZ awards in this round, including several awards to the City of Asheville for Biltmore Village improvements and a $1 million award to Black Mountain for stormwater pipe replacement. For Swannanoa residents the immediate impacts include safer pedestrian routes for families and visitors, improved access to local businesses in Beacon Village, and a visible investment in the town center that county officials say supports longer term economic recovery.
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