Our Partners
WNC Communities works collaboratively with our partners to create a vibrant agricultural economy, preserve the forests through environmental stewardship, and provide resources to rural communities across Western North Carolina. Our partners contribute in different ways, from providing funding, acting as sponsors for specific programming, or lending their time and energy to helping our programs succeed. Below is a list of our partners and how they support our organization.
AgSouth Farm Credit
AgSouth Farm Credit supports us in multiple programs. As one of the funders of our Immediate Disaster Relief program, they helped farm business recover from Tropical Storm Fred. They have also supported the WNC Honors Awards as a Supporting Level Sponsor in 2022, and have been sponsors of the Junior Beef Show and Junior Dairy Show.
Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project (ASAP)
ASAP partners with us on multiple programs, including WNC Ag Options, where they support the program through volunteer participation on the Steering Committee. ASAP also partnered with us in our Immediate Disaster Relief program, which helped farm businesses recover from Tropical Storm Fred. ASAP is a nonprofit based in Asheville, North Carolina, serving the Southern Appalachian region. To learn more about their work, please visit the website link below.
Appalachian Regional Commission
The Appalachian Regional Commission is one of the original funders of the WNC Regional Livestock Center and has also served as a sponsor throughout the years.
Biltmore Farms
Biltmore Farms supports the WNC Honors Awards as a Leadership Level Sponsor in 2022.
Buncombe County Farm Bureau
Buncombe County Farm Bureau supports WNC Honors Awards as a Supporting Level Sponsor in 2022.
Buncombe County Soil and Water
Buncombe County Soil and Water served as a partner in our Immediate Disaster Relief program, which helped farm businesses recover from Tropical Storm Fred.
Community Foundation of Western North Carolina
The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina (CFWNC) funded the Emergency Food Assistance program during Covid-19. To learn more about CFWNC, please visit the website link below:
Dogwood Health Trust
Dogwood Health Trust (DHT) supports us through numerous programs, including WNC Honors Awards, Immediate Disaster Relief, and Emergency Food Assistance. DHT has given WNC Communities a 3 year grant to support our community programs, with a focus on Social Determinants of Health, organizational education, and implementation of a Strategic Planning Pilot. They have also partnered with us on our Immediate Disaster Relief efforts after Tropical Storm Fred and our Emergency Food Assistance during Covid -19, providing operational support. To learn more about Dogwood Health Trust’s impact on Western North Carolina, please visit the website link below:
Duke Energy
Duke Energy supports the WNC Honors Awards as a Premier Level Sponsor in 2022, giving $10,000 that goes towards our network of active community centers for projects, programs, and events.
First Citizens Bank
First Citizens support the WNC Honors Awards as a Leadership Level Sponsor in 2022.
Golden Leaf Foundation
The Golden Leaf Foundation is an original funder of the WNC Regional Livestock Center, and has served as a sponsor throughout the years.
Harrah's
Harrah’s supports the WNC Honors Awards as a Premier Level Sponsor in 2022, giving $10,000 that goes towards our network of active community centers for projects, programs, and events.
Haywood County Soil and Water
Haywood County Soil and Water partnered with us in our Immediate Disaster Relief efforts.
Haywood Regional Medical Center
Haywood Regional Medical Center supports the WNC Honors Awards as a Community Level Sponsor in 2022
International Paper
International Paper is one of the original funders of the WNC Regional Livestock Center, and has been a sponsor throughout the years.
NC Agriculture Development & Farmland Preservation Trust Fund
NC Agriculture Development & Farmland Preservation Trust Fund is one of the original funders of the WNC Regional Livestock Center, and has been a sponsor throughout the years.
North Carolina Cooperative County Extension Service
North Carolina Cooperative County Extension Service is a partner in WNC Ag Options, supporting the program through participation in operating the program. They also partnered in our Immediate Disaster Relief efforts. NC County Extension is a partner of the WNC Honors Awards program. Extensions agents help convene member communities to assist them in identifying and advocating for their needs. NC County Extension offices often provide free space for meetings.
NCDA&CS
NCDA & CS has supported and partnered with us through multiple initiatives. partnered with us in our Immediate Disaster Relief efforts to help farmers recover from Tropical Storm Fred in 2021. They are also a funder of the Hemlock Restoration Initiative, and serve on the HRI Advisory Board. NCDA&CS also supports WNC Ag Options through volunteer participation in the Steering Committee.
NC Farm Bureau
NC Farm Bureau partnered with us in our Immediate Disaster Relief efforts.
New Belgium Brewing
New Belgium Brewing supports the WNC Honors Awards as a Supporting Level Sponsor in 2022.
North Carolina Tobacco Trust Fund Commission
We work with the NC Tobacco Trust Fund through numerous programs including WNC Ag Options and the WNC Regional Livestock Center. WNC Ag Options is funded exclusively by the NC Tobacco Trust fund Commission, and the signature program to provide cost share grants to farmers in WNC. The NC Tobacco Trust Fund Commission is also the funder of grants that support the WNC Regional Livestock Center.
Outward Bound School
The Outward Bound School is a partner of the WNC Honors Awards program. They provide free tuition to their leadership programs for up to 3 youths each year, who are winners in the Youth Leadership category of the WNC Honors Awards.
The McClure Fund
The MClure Fund supports the WNC Honors Awards as a Leadership Level Sponsor in 2022.
The Rural Center
The Rural Center is one of the original funders of the WNC Regional Livestock Center, and has been a sponsor throughout the years.
United Way of Haywood County
United Way of Haywood County was one of the funders of our Immediate Disaster Relief program, which helped farm businesses recover from Tropical Storm Fred.
Wells Fargo
Wells Fargo supports the WNC Honors Awards as a Leadership Level Sponsor in 2022.
WNC Livestock Exchange
WNC Livestock Exchange was one of the funders of our Immediate Disaster Relief program, which helped farm businesses recover from Tropical Storm Fred.