Hello! My name is Anneliesse Gormley. This feels so weird to be writing, but alas, here we are. I live in Asheville, NC, which has been my home for almost 15 years. I have been working for years to make a dream come true of opening a brick and mortar. Although my business currently is Spoon + Hook, I have long dreamed of something that is bigger than me, something that has ample opportunity for the community to grow into.

I want to open a homesteading and hardware store specializing in woodworking tools and beyond. All of 2024, I have been working to acquire a small business loan. When Hurricane Helene hit, I was told my loan had been revoked because they could no longer fund startups. I cannot give up on my dream and I certainly cannot give up on my city. My hope is the funds are used exactly how they would have been used for my loan. To invest in building out the space properly, investing in inventory and its future. I dream of a space that employs others in the community and has so much opportunity for so many other voices to be raised.

I am asking for help to ensure this dream has sustainability and can be part of the rebuilding process Asheville deserves to have.