2018 marks the 35th anniversary of the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority and the first year of operation of Explore Asheville as an independent organization. At its annual meeting BCTDA Chair Jim Muth and Explore Asheville President and CEO Stephanie Brown will provide an overview of this monumental year of change and innovation that has led to record breaking performance.

“Asheville by Design” explores the vision and intentionality that gave shape and character to the Asheville area of today. The program is a partnership that continues a longstanding relationship between Explore Asheville and National Geographic Travel, born out of its appreciation for what Asheville is all about and a continued interest in telling stories that reflect the heart of the destination.

A public hearing is scheduled Wednesday, June 27, 2018, at 9:00 a.m., for the purpose of approving the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority’s FY 2018-19 Operating, Earned Revenue, and Tourism Product Development Fund Administrative budgets. The hearing will be held in the boardroom of the Explore Asheville Convention & Visitors Bureau at 27 College Place in Asheville. Click here to review the proposed Budget Ordinance. The budgets will be presented in detail on Wednesday, May 30, at 9:00 a.m., at the board’s regularly scheduled meeting, also at 27 College Place. Please contact Executive Operations Manager Jonna Reiff at jreiff@ExploreAsheville.com or 828-258-6111 with any questions.

The Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority (BCTDA) announced today that it will provide $4.6 million to the City of Asheville to complete the southern section of the River Arts District Transportation Improvement Project (RADTIP). BCTDA determined that available dollars in the Tourism Product Development Fund (TPDF) at the end of the most recent cycle could be instrumental in making up the shortfall to restore the full scope of this important section of the City’s RADTIP project.

In its September 27 meeting the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority (BCTDA) voted to provide $51,500 in grants to support 13 community festivals and events. Utilizing discretionary advertising revenue from the ExploreAsheville.com website, BCTDA developed a Festivals and Cultural Events Support Fund in early 2016. The grant program, now in its second year, is a mechanism to foster festivals and cultural events that serve Buncombe County residents as well as visitors to the area. The primary purposes of this fund are: • To support and preserve cultural identity within Buncombe County • To stimulate the creation of new or expansion of existing tourism Events • To help events grow With the redesign of...

The BCTDA voted unanimously to support the Town of Woodfin and Buncombe County government with a $2.25 million TPDF award at its June board meeting. The Woodfin Greenway & Blueway project is a $13.9 million recreation infrastructure project that will add five miles of new greenway trails, the new Silverline Park on the French Broad River, and the in-stream Whitewater Wave feature along with other park updates and improvements.

The Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority (BCTDA) announced details of its 2018 Event Fund grant program. The grant program, launched in 2016, provides financial support for festivals and cultural events that serve Buncombe County residents as well as visitors to the area. Applications for 2018 festivals and cultural events are due on Thursday, August 31, 2017; grants will be announced, Thursday, September 28, 2017.