Asheville Merchants Fund (AMF)

Priority will be given to projects comprehensively addressing one or more of the following areas:

Innovative Economic Approaches

• Community asset development: investing in emerging local economies, especially those related to home-grown businesses
• Entrepreneurship: resources for entrepreneurs, including access to training, service providers, and capital to accelerate business success

Quality Jobs & Workforce

• Living wage work: recruitment, retention, and expansion of businesses providing high-quality, well-paying jobs
• Appropriate skills: training for jobs that are in demand and critical to community viability
• Non-traditional training and employment services: flexible schedules, short-term certificate programs, and community-based (versus academic institutional) settings

Social Infrastructure

• Programs contributing to family economic success, including financial education and asset development
• Affordable housing: developing effective strategies and supporting  implementation
• Services that increase employees’ ability to participate fully in the workforce, including health and wellness or dependent care

Youth Success in School

• Middle and high school students: targeted academic (particularly in math, science, and technology) and non-academic activities related to job skill development
• Family support: improving the home environment for learning

Factors considered in evaluating applications include:

• Focus on a critical need that addresses a gap in existing services
• Defined, measurable results that can be achieved within the grant period and make a long-term difference in the lives of the beneficiaries
• Skilled leadership with the potential to carry out innovative, integrated efforts effectively in one or more of the focus areas.

For additional funding parameters, see the Full Grant Text RFP.

• Others (see text field entitled "Additional Eligibility Criteria" for clarification)