Senator Chuck Edwards, along with Buncombe County Commissioner and Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority Board Member Joe Belcher and Buncombe County TDA Board Chair Gary Froeba, announced on April 24 a collaborative effort to jump-start the Buncombe County tourism business sector and restore critical jobs impacted by COVID-19.
Senator Edwards will file legislation titled “Buncombe County Tourism Jobs Recovery Act” when the NC General Assembly returns for its short session on April 28.
Should the legislation become law, it will allow the Buncombe County TDA to establish a Job Recovery Fund that will provide $5 million in emergency grant funding for Buncombe County tourism-related small businesses and nonprofit organizations affected by coronavirus pandemic.
>> Read Senator Edwards’ press release here.
>> Read FAQs about the Job Recovery Fund here.
Media Coverage about the Announcement
- WLOS-TV – April 25, 2020
- WLOS-TV – April 29, 2020
- Asheville Citizen-Times
- Blue Ridge Public Radio
- Ashvegas