regional investment
Opportunity Appalachia in WNC
The Opportunity Appalachia program provides targeted support for downtown and rural development to build entrepreneurial communities where local business can thrive, creating quality jobs for residents, and revitalizing local economies.
Application due April 12th!
Watch the North Carolina kick-off webinar on February 8, and submit your application by April 12th.
Mountain BizWorks is pleased to be the the WNC lead partner in Opportunity Appalachia, a five-state endeavor designed to bring new investment into Central Appalachia.
Mountain BizWorks will provide guidance and support to any interested WNC participants and will work with communities on developing their application and proposals. All North Carolina ARC counties and communities therein can participate (NC ARC Counties).
What’s Available
Get a grant!
Six technical assistance awards of $40,000 – $75,000 per project for
pre-development work
Get help!
Technical assistance from specialized experts on topics like architectural design + engineering, business planning, market studies, or financial structuring; Assistance in the development of an investment prospectus; Creation of a top-of-the-line marketing pitch video.
Get funded!
Invitation to present at the Investors Convening, featuring capital partners from across the US. Plus, introductions to funders specializing in rural development.
Who Should Apply:
Project applicants must be designed to bring new investment into Appalachia in the following target
areas:
- Downtown Development
- Manufacturing
- Heritage Tourism and Recreation
- Food Systems
- Healthcare
- Education
- Clean Energy
- Affordable Housing
Mountain BizWorks will support projects during the application process, including sharing insights on whether Opportunity Appalachia is a good fit for your project. Start by watching the webinar to learn more!
How to Apply:
The current grant cycle is open February 8 – April 12, 2024. Continue reading for a preview of the process.
Step 1: Review the program guidelines and watch the Opportunity Appalachia NC launch webinar.
Step 2: Submit a Pre-application Project Form by March 29. This step is optional but encouraged for you to have a pre-application session to review your project, answer any questions about the Opportunity Appalachia process, and to assist with preparing a well qualified application.
Step 3: Submit the Online Application by April 12.
Timeline:
The 2022 Project Portfolio includes downtown development, manufacturing, IT, healthcare, education, food systems, clean energy, and heritage tourism and recreation. These high impact projects are expected to provide both robust social return as well as an attractive financial return.
- Blue Note Junction, Asheville, NC
- Catawba Vale Innovation Market, Old Fort, NC
- Grier Village, Old Fort, NC
- High Country Meats Value-Added Facility, Zionville, NC
- The Hotel Charles, Shelby, NC
- Scott-Griffin Hotel and Rooftop Restaurant, Franklin, NC
- Sylva Stay, Sylva, NC
For a full list of participating projects – which include manufacturing facilities, downtown development, tech business, agricultural facilities, hotels / housing, broadband deployment, and retail enterprises – please visit the overall program site here.
Timeline:
Project/Community Selection Announcement
Project Funders
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