SWANNANOA, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Plans for a new Swannanoa Post Office have taken another step forward, with the U.S. Postal Service confirming the project has a signed lease and full funding in place, according to Buncombe County Commissioner Jennifer Horton.

Horton shared the update Monday, saying she recently asked the Postal Service for more details about its commitment to building a replacement facility after the previous Swannanoa Post Office was damaged by flooding from Tropical Storm Helene and later closed.

“The lease is fully executed,” Horton wrote in a social media update. “It is a 10-year non-cancelable lease. The Postal Service also confirmed the project is fully funded.”

Horton said the lease and funding confirmation show a stronger commitment from the Postal Service to complete the project.

“A non-cancelable lease and confirmed funding mean this is not a plan that can quietly go away,” Horton wrote.

The Postal Service has not announced a timeline for construction. Horton said that will come after the design process is complete and a construction contract is awarded.

“I will continue to stay in contact and keep asking questions,” Horton said.

The announcement comes nearly two years after Helene devastated the Swannanoa community. The storm caused catastrophic flooding along the Swannanoa River, damaging homes, businesses and critical services throughout the area.

The former Swannanoa Post Office was located inside the Ingles Plaza shopping center along U.S. 70. Floodwaters severely damaged the building, and Ingles Markets, which owned the property, decided not to repair the facility and removed it from the market.

Because the Postal Service leases many of its facilities, USPS began evaluating options for a replacement location after the closure.

Earlier this year, residents received notices from USPS seeking public input on a potential relocation site. The 45-day comment period ended April 19, 2026.

The proposed replacement facility is planned for 2230 U.S. 70 in Swannanoa, where design work is underway.

The replacement post office is one of several ongoing recovery efforts in Swannanoa following the widespread damage caused by Helene.

The empty Ingles Plaza site along U.S. 70 remains a visible reminder of the storm’s impact, with the former grocery store and post office among the businesses and services lost during the historic flooding.