Black Wall Street AVL Hosts June 13 GRINDfest, Unveiling Storm-Recovery Grant
Updated
Updated · WLOS · Jun 11
Black Wall Street AVL Hosts June 13 GRINDfest, Unveiling Storm-Recovery Grant
1 articles · Updated · WLOS · Jun 11
Summary
GRINDfest will run from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on June 13 at Asheville’s Pack Square Park, with Black Wall Street AVL using the event to spotlight Black entrepreneurship, culture, music and community.
The festival’s business focus includes a summit, a marketplace for Black-owned businesses and a pitch competition, where organizers also plan to announce a grant for owners recovering from Helene.
Black Wall Street AVL founder J Hackett said 78% of the group’s entrepreneurs are low-to-moderate income, leaving many with fewer resources to restart after flood damage.
Helene also hit the incubator itself: a city-provided economic development building was nearly submerged, and equipment for the nonprofit’s operations was washed away, underscoring the recovery challenge behind this year’s event.