The Buncombe County TDA is happy to have given a $705,000 Tourism Product Development Fund grant to LEAF to help bring the LEAF Global Arts Center to fruition. This vibrant and inspiring center will serve as a cornerstone in the continued rebirth of The Block, Asheville’s historic African-American business district, honoring the rich history of this neighborhood while also elevating and greatly diversifying Asheville’s already abundant arts and cultural traditions.
The $705,000 Tourism Product Development Fund grant comes from a portion of the occupancy tax paid by people who visit here and stay overnight in commercial lodging facilities. Residents and visitors alike will benefit from this exciting new project!
What else has the Buncombe County TDA supported with occupancy tax funds?
There are multiple cultural, historic, performing and visual arts, educational projects, and community gathering spaces within a few short blocks of one another in downtown Asheville that have received funding from the BCTDA. These include:
- Asheville Art Museum
- Asheville Community Theatre
- Asheville Science Museum
- Black Mountain College Museum + Arts Center
- Buncombe County Civil War Trails
- Center for Craft
- The Collider
- Grove Arcade
- LEAF Global Arts Center
- The Orange Peel
- Pack Square Park & Pavilion
- The Wortham Center for Performing Arts
- U.S. Cellular Center (now Harrah’s Cherokee Center Asheville)
- Western North Carolina Veterans’ Memorial at Pack Square Park
- YMI Cultural Center
In addition, funding has been approved for the future African-American Heritage Museum at Stephens-Lee Community Center.