Tourism Product Development Fund (TPDF)
Investing in quality of place
Expanding the Vibrancy of our Community through Capital Project Investments
Since 2001, the authority has invested more than $98 million through 73 TPDF investments in 45 community projects throughout Buncombe County. This fund supports significant tourism capital projects by providing grants, loans, and debt service, benefiting both residents and visitors in Buncombe County.
Designed to grow the local economy and attract more overnight visitors, the fund helps to create jobs and entrepreneurial opportunities for residents while enhancing our community with authentic experiences and public amenities. Lodging taxes paid by visitors staying in hotels, vacation rentals, and bed and breakfasts in Buncombe County make the fund possible. The use of these funds is guided by the North Carolina State Legislation H1057.
TPDF Investments
The Tourism Product Development Fund (TPDF) has played a key role in investing in a range of impactful projects throughout Buncombe County, including but not limited to:
- Outdoor Public Spaces: Wilma Dykeman Greenway and Pack Square Park
- Family-Friendly Destinations: WNC Nature Center and Asheville Museum of Science
- Arts Institutions: Black Mountain College Museum + Art Center and Asheville Community Theatre
- Sports & Recreation: McCormick Field and John B. Lewis Soccer Complex
- Culture & Heritage Sites: YMI Cultural Center and WNC Farmers Market
2025 Tourism Product Development Fund Investments
| Applicant | Project | Investment |
| Asheville Museum of Science | AMOS Downtown Expansion: Immersive Science Destination | $189,500 |
| Beacon Foundation | Beacon Park | $4,500,000 |
| Buncombe County Government | Enka Recreation Destination Phase II | $1,975,920 |
| Enka Youth Sports Organization | Bob Lewis Ballpark | $220,000 |
| UNC Asheville Foundation | UNCA On-Campus Tennis Complex | $500,000 |
| Warren Wilson College | Warren Wilson College Aquatics Center | $1,606,000 |
| White Horse Stepstone | White Horse Black Mountain Community Patio Project | $736,537 |
| *Asheville Buncombe Youth Sports Association | John B Lewis Soccer Complex Restoration | $2,155,000 |
| *Enka Youth Sports Organization | Bob Lewis Ballpark Parking Improvements | $500,000 |
| GRAND TOTAL | $12,382,957 |
*Expedited May 2025
$9.7 Million Approved for 2025 TPDF Investments
Beacon Foundation – Beacon Park | $4,500,000
Beacon Park will transform the former Beacon Blanket Mill, a 4.7-acre site in downtown Swannanoa, into a world-class public green space featuring the largest all-wheel bike facility of its kind in North and South America designed by Velosolutions, a global leader in urban bike infrastructure.
Buncombe County – Enka Recreation Destination Phase II | $1,975,920
Building on previous TPDF investments, this phase will enhance multiple fields at the Buncombe County Sports Park with lighting and synthetic turf, as well as add an ADA-compliant walking path, an accessible playground, a pavilion, and resiliency improvements.
Warren Wilson College Aquatics Center | $1,606,000
This project will complete and upgrade Warren Wilson College's Aquatic Center by demolishing the existing pool enclosure and replacing it with a new 10,000-square-foot facility featuring a six-lane pool, competition-level diving boards, and seating for 200 spectators.
White Horse Stepstone (Nonprofit) - White Horse Black Mountain Community Patio Project | $736,537
This project will expand the nonprofit music venue with a 3,972-square-foot, four-season covered patio and upper deck, accommodating 174 additional guests per event.
UNC Asheville On-Campus Tennis Complex | $500,000
This new outdoor tennis facility will feature six lighted competition courts, complete with viewing stands, and a dedicated tennis building that includes coaches' offices, locker rooms, and public restrooms.
Enka Youth Sports Organization – Bob Lewis Ballpark Visitor Amenity Enhancements | $220,000 (Oct 2025) | $500,000 (May 2025)
Improvements to Bob Lewis Ballpark, the region's only dedicated youth baseball and softball venue, will include entry columns, synthetic turf behind dugouts, shade sail canopies, safety fencing, and an internal pedestrian trail connecting the upper and lower fields.
Asheville Museum of Science – AMOS Downtown Expansion | $189,500
The Asheville Museum of Science will expand into the long-vacant adjacent space at 1 Haywood St., doubling its public footprint.
John B. Lewis Soccer Complex at Azalea Park | $2,155,000 (May 2025)
This multi-year project of the Asheville Buncombe Youth Soccer Association (ABYSA) encompasses an upgrade and replacement of the artificial turf on four soccer fields at the City of Asheville-owned John B. Lewis Soccer Complex, creating a first-class facility that will serve both the community and visiting tournament teams.
Meet the committee
Tourism Product Development Fund Committee
The TPDF Committee provides recommendations to the authority to invest in major tourism capital projects that will increase patronage at lodging facilities in Buncombe County by attracting tourists and/or business travelers, thereby replenishing the fund.
The BCTDA Board of Directors appoints TPDF Committee members. A majority of committee members must be owners or operators of hotels, motels, or other taxable lodging accommodations. The remainder of the committee shall be comprised of representatives with expertise in tourism, law, finance, economic development, architecture, or engineering. Committee members serve a term that spans three funding cycles, each lasting a minimum of one year, for a total of three years.
