Buncombe County Opens 2026 Grant Cycle, Prioritizes Storm Displaced

Buncombe County launched its application cycle in mid December for several grant programs covering the 2026 and 2027 funding period, officials reported on December 22, 2025. Awarded funds will be available for the county fiscal year that begins July 1, 2026. The opening signals county priorities in housing, services for older adults, and early childhood care as demands rise across the region.

The Affordable Housing Services Program opened on December 17, 2025 and includes multiple funding streams. Available support comprises construction loans, downpayment assistance loans, tenant based rental assistance grants, construction grants, emergency repair grants, New Start grants and administrative support. This cycle specifically prioritizes households permanently displaced by Tropical Storm Helene. Applications for this program are due January 30, 2026.

Funding for aging services is structured to align with the County Age Friendly Action Plan and will support health and wellbeing, caregiver support, transportation access and other priorities identified for older residents. Applications for Aging Services Funding will open in January 2026, with exact dates to be announced by the county.

The Early Childhood Fund aims to ensure access to quality early care and education for children from birth through kindergarten. Applications for that fund will open January 5, 2026 and will close February 20, 2026. Together these programs are intended to shore up service networks and expand capacity among nonprofit and government partners ahead of the new fiscal year.

For Buncombe County residents the grants matter in tangible ways. Prioritization of households displaced by Tropical Storm Helene directs scarce housing resources toward recovery for families who lost homes, while investments in early childhood services and aging supports affect workforce needs, family stability and care access throughout the county. Nonprofit agencies and municipal partners seeking funding should review eligibility requirements and submit applications ahead of the posted deadlines on the Buncombe County website.

The cycle reflects local responses to increasing climate related storm impacts and demographic shifts, and it will shape how the county uses public funds to support recovery and long term services in the year ahead.