ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — The Community Foundation of Western North Carolinahas awarded four WNC Community Enhancement grants totaling $40,000 to support charitable organizations and eligible public agencies engaged in projects in downtowns or commercial corridors that enhance appearance, infrastructure or the pedestrian experience.
The grants are:
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“The Smoky Mountain Community Theatre membership and the local community are thankful for the WNC Community Enhancement Grant,” grants chair Chris Roth said in a news release. “The theater is located on Main Street in Bryson City at the center of our town. This grant will provide funding for a much-needed facelift as well as awnings over both storefronts and updated outdoor lighting. These improvements will help restore this vital building for use as a community center for young and old, visitors and residents in Bryson City and surrounding areas.”
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CFWNC and Dogwood Health Trust have partnered to make WNC Community Enhancement grants available. CFWNC is administering the program; Dogwood Health Trust provided the funding for the one-year pilot. The grants are another way to support rural economic development and can help build, rebuild or refresh community spaces that foster connections and economic development. Grants are reviewed and announced quarterly.
To apply, organizations must be tax-exempt and located in the Qualla Boundary or one of the following counties in Western North Carolina: Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Swain, Transylvania or Yancey. Priority will be given to projects located in rural or under-resourced areas.
CFWNC works with families, businesses and nonprofits to strengthen communities through the creation of charitable funds and strategic grantmaking. A permanent charitable resource, the foundation manages more than 1,200 funds and facilitated $34 million in grants last year, bringing total distributions to more than $362 million since its founding in 1978. Learn more here.