Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority Awards UNC Asheville $1.5 Million Grant for Track Project

ASHEVILLE, N.C. - The Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority announced on Wednesday, Oct. 26 that UNC Asheville was awarded a $1.5 million grant to assist in the revitalization of the Karl Straus Track. This grant was a part of a $9 million package to local community projects aimed at drawing more people to Asheville and Buncombe County.

This grant will assist in the $4.5 million renovation of the track and allow UNC Asheville to host track and field meets for Bulldog Athletics and the community moving forward. The project, which broke ground earlier this month, is slated for completion by March 31, 2023.

"UNC Asheville is thrilled with this generous and significant investment in the University's service to our Division I athletes and to our Buncombe County community," stated UNC Asheville Chancellor Nancy J. Cable. "The Tourism Development Authority is a trusted and close partner, and we are deeply grateful to the TDA board and Vic Isley's capable leadership."

Director of Athletics Janet R. Cone expressed similar appreciation.

"We are so very grateful for this transformational award from the Buncombe County TDA to our Track Renovation Project," she said. "This helps us tremendously in modernizing and improving the track not just for our student-athletes, but everyone in the greater Asheville and Buncombe County area."

Cone added, "This support shows how we, as a community, can work together to help fulfill a need for first class facilities here in Asheville. We look forward to welcoming the community to join us when the project is complete for future meets, events, or personal fitness needs."

In addition to the TDA grant, UNC Asheville Athletics has raised over $1.7 million in additional gifts and pledges toward the project. This includes significant gifts from John and Diane Teeter, Ricky and Traci Silver, Charles and Jody Silver, David and Dianne Worley, Rick and Janna Lutovsky, Ben and Becky Lewis, Pat and Junius Grimes and the Pepsi-Cola Bottling Company.

"The support from our community friends toward this project gives me such great joy at the investment they continue to make in our student-athletes and the University as a whole," Cone continued. "The track renovation project will not only impact our current Bulldogs but also generations to come at UNC Asheville and in Buncombe County."

For more information on the Outdoor Sports Complex campaign and opportunities to support the project, please visit uncabulldogs.com/outdoorsports.

About the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority
The Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority is the public authority created in 1983 by an act of the North Carolina Legislature to oversee the collection and investment of occupancy taxes paid by travelers who stay overnight in commercial lodging establishments, such as hotels and motels, bed and breakfast operations, and vacation rentals such as Airbnb and VRBOs. The members of the Buncombe County TDA Board have a fiduciary responsibility to ensure that the tax dollars are spent in accordance with the specific legislation governing their use. For more information on the 2022 Buncombe County TDA grant awardees, please click here.

University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics

Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority Awards UNC Asheville $1.5 Million Grant for Track Project

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