# Strategic Partnership Grants Committee Meeting | Oct. 1, 2026

At the Buncombe County Strategic Partnership Grants Committee meeting, titled Oct. 1, 2026, staff reviewed the upcoming FY28 grant cycle. The county anticipates making about $1 million available, subject to budget adoption. Staff said the Helen recovery focus will continue for another cycle and be incorporated into the strategic-alignment scoring criterion. The pilot for grants of up to $10,000 for one-time, non-personnel purchases will also continue; the committee will defer reconsidering a consecutive-year funding cap, while the prior two-year organizational eligibility requirement remains waived for this cycle. No grant awards or funding recommendations were voted on at this meeting.

Applications are scheduled to open Jan. 4 and close Feb. 12, with committee scoring due March 21 and funding recommendations planned for April 1. Recommendations are expected to go to the county manager’s May budget message and then to commissioners for public hearing and budget adoption in June; final grants would be administered through performance contracts. Staff will bring a draft application to the committee in December and consider clarifying requirements for applicants’ budgets, other funding applications, and organizational capacity. The committee also approved the prior meeting’s minutes and discussed a November networking event for grantees and committee members.

**Jurisdictions:** sled
**Topics:** Grants & Funding
**Published:** October 02, 2026

### Sources
- [Strategic Partnership Grants Committee Meeting | Oct. 1, 2026](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1LHr6X8FCYA) - Buncombe County Government