ASHEVILLE – The nation may still be in the throes of the coronavirus, but Venture Asheville is already looking ahead to the recovery.
The Asheville Chamber program that helps support the launch and growth of Western North Carolina startups announced today that it has raised $25,000 in support of the Asheville Impact Micro Grant.
Now in its second year, the Asheville Impact Micro Grant will help launch five new startups by seeding each of them with a $5,000 grant.
“Entrepreneurs will lead the recovery, and out here in Asheville it’s important that we rebuild a diverse economy,” Venture Asheville Director Jeffrey Kaplan told WRAL TechWire. “This grant program will help up jumpstart the recovery.”
Fifty individuals, the HCA Healthcare Mission Fund, the First Horizon Bank Foundation and the NC Biotechnology Center donated to the initiative.
The newly formed HCA Healthcare Mission Fund contributed $10,000, $5,000 came from the First Horizon Bank Foundation, and $3,000 came from the NC Biotechnology Center.
To be eligible, applicants must have less than $50,000 in revenue or funding, be located in Haywood or Buncombe County, and be prepared to show how $5,000 can have a multiplying effect on their business.
“They need to show us how they’ll turn $5,000 into $15,000 or $50,000. That’s the impact we are looking to see,” said Kaplan of the selection criteria.
New to this year’s competition is the HCA Healthcare Mission Fund Winner, which will go to a startup in the health and wellness industry. Startups in this industry are strongly encouraged to apply.
Applications for startups to apply for these $5,000 grants are now open through May 17.
To find out more information, go here.
