University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville Receives $310,000 in USTA Grant Funding
12.15.2025 | Men's Tennis, Women's Tennis
Grant funds to be used towards the construction of UNC Asheville’s new on-campus tennis facility
ASHEVILLE, N.C. -Â The United States Tennis Association (USTA) today announced that it has awarded a $200,000 Tennis Venue Services grant to UNC Asheville, while USTA Southern contributed an additional $100,000 and USTA North Carolina added $10,000.Â
The grant funds, which total $310,000, will be used towards the construction of UNC Asheville's new on-campus tennis facility. Work on the new six-court outdoor tennis facility is set to begin in early 2026.Â
The significant funding was made possible by the expansion of the USTA's Tennis Venue Services grant program this year, earmarking $10 million to support tennis infrastructure in order to meet the increasing demand for tennis courts as tennis participation continues to rise nationwide. The $200,000 grant is the maximum funding available as part of the expanded TVS grant program and matches the USTA's largest investment in a single project in the history of the program.
The TVS grant program is designed to enhance existing tennis venues and construct new ones in order to provide increased playing opportunities in communities across the country. Since 2005, the USTA has awarded more than $19 million in TVS grants and last year USTA grants impacted more than 500 courts in more than 60 communities.Â
 "UNC Asheville is deeply grateful for this investment in our tennis facility," said UNC Asheville Director of Athletics Janet R. Cone. "This grant strengthens our ability to support our student-athletes and enhances a space that serves both our campus and the greater Asheville community. We are excited for the opportunities this creates for our programs and for the continued growth of Bulldog Athletics."
"We are committed to supporting the enhancement and construction of tennis facilities in communities across the country," said Theodore Loehrke, Managing Director, Section Partnerships, USTA. "Investing in the development of tennis facilities nationwide helps support the USTA's mission of growing tennis to inspire healthier people and communities everywhere."Â
"USTA Southern is committed to growing tennis on college campuses, especially where facilities are used by the local community," USTA Southern President & CEO Ted Reese said. "Also, the support aligns with our goal to partner with our state associations and USTA to expand play opportunities for the world's healthiest sport."
"Investing in the development and improvement of tennis facilities across the state is central to our mission of growing the game and inspiring healthier people and communities," said Kelly Gaines, Executive Director, USTA North Carolina. "We are proud to partner with USTA Southern and USTA to make projects like this possible."
In order to ensure that communities have access to safe, appealing and functional tennis environments, grant recipients also receive start-to-finish project management assistance from the USTA's Tennis Venue Services team. It provides industry-leading experience in tennis court and facility design, as well as technical assistance, including construction document review and business development insight, to ensure the facilities can deliver tennis at a high level.
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The USTA is the national governing body for the sport of tennis in the U.S. and the leader in promoting and developing the growth of tennis at every level -- from local communities to the highest level of the professional game. A not-for-profit organization, it invests 100 percent of its proceeds in growing the game. It owns and operates the US Open, one of the highest-attended annual sporting events in the world, along with approximately 100 Pro Circuit events throughout the U.S., and selects the teams for Davis Cup, Billie Jean King Cup, and the Olympic and Paralympic Games. The USTA's philanthropic entity, the USTA Foundation, provides grants and scholarships in addition to supporting tennis and education programs nationwide to benefit under-resourced youth through the National Junior Tennis & Learning (NJTL) network. For more information about the USTA, go to USTA.com or follow the official accounts on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter (X) and TikTok.
Contact: Mary Ilarraza, USTA Corporate Communications, mary.ilarraza@usta.comÂ
