For 125 years, the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce has served as the catalyst for economic vitality in the region. As a nonprofit organization, their mission is clear: building community through business. The Chamber connects members to valuable resources, including economic development research, business education, marketing opportunities and advocacy, earning recognition as Chamber of the Year by the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives.
“Our tagline is ‘Together, We Are MORE,’” said Erin Leonard, the vice president of communications at the Chamber. “After Helene, that message became more powerful than ever.”
When Hurricane Helene hit, the Chamber rolled up its sleeves and got to work rebuilding the economic heartbeat of the region.
Within days of the storm, they transformed their historic Montford Avenue headquarters into a support center where entrepreneurs and business owners could meet with representatives from the Small Business Administration and other organizations to navigate the maze of disaster recovery resources.
They established the Mountain Strong Fund for Business Recovery, raising over $1 million from local partners and donors from across the country. These funds became direct grants for businesses with uninsured losses, specifically targeting smaller operations with fewer than 200 employees committed to reopening.
“The partnerships were incredible,” Leonard said. “We collaborated with Mountain BizWorks, City of Asheville, and Buncombe County — pooling resources together to award over $4 million in grants to small businesses.”
Several months after the storm, the Chamber shifted focus from emergency response to reimagining possibilities. They launched their economic development strategic plan that had to be rethought entirely in Helene’s aftermath.
“We had already been having good conversations, but suddenly we were in a new environment,” Leonard said. “The timing allowed us to pause, refocus and bring in insights from other communities about resilience.”
And the signs of renewal have sprouted across the region. The reopening of bridges, favorite breweries and small businesses represents significant milestones.
This creativity didn’t happen in isolation. The Chamber stepped up its role as a connector and brought together government officials, business owners and community stakeholders for events to discuss what worked in the immediate aftermath and where the community needs to go next.
For visitors itching to support Asheville’s comeback, Leonard’s message is clear: “We need you to visit! Some visitors may have been holding back, but we’re open and ready to serve people.”
While here, visit The Asheville Shop, which features gifts and handcrafted items from local entrepreneurs and artisans. Flying Bikes, an e-bike tours and rental company, is now operating from the Visitor’s Center after being displaced by flooding.
The Chamber continues collaborating with partners like Explore Asheville, whose messaging has evolved to “We’re open and ready.”
“Business is the heartbeat of our economy,” Leonard said. “From the very smallest businesses to our largest employers, they create opportunity, contribute to our quality of life and give Asheville its unique character. Our job is to support them with whatever they need to not just rebuild, but reimagine.”
