ASHEVILLE â Mountain BizWorks, with offices in Boone and Asheville, announced on Dec. 28 that it received a $250,000 Open for Business grant from Wells Fargo Foundation.
Mountain BizWorks is a U.S. Treasury certified nonprofit community development financial institution. The organization stated that the grant enables Mountain BizWorks to further its programs to help local businesses survive and rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic. In particular, the support will expand Mountain BizWorksâ Catalyst Program to assist entrepreneurs that might lack access to bank lending opportunities. Two Catalyst participants have already received funding from the grant: Sole82 and Safe Plus More.
Mountain BizWorks spokesperson Justin Thompson said funding from the grant is available to those within the agencyâs 26-county service footprint â including Watauga, Ashe and Avery counties.