RALEIGH — North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein is asking lawmakers for more than $1.07 billion to cover immediate needs for western North Carolina’s recovery from Hurricane Helene.
“The people of western North Carolina have suffered tremendously since Helene swept through,” Stein said in a press release. “I appreciate what the General Assembly has done so far, but it’s time for us to step up and get them the money they need right now to rebuild. We can’t forget western North Carolina — and I will do everything in my power to ensure that the state shows up for them.”
The total amount requested in Stein’s proposal is $1,071,729,750 for specific urgent needs through July 1, 2025. The funds would come from the Stabilization and Inflation Reserve ($846,729,750) and the Helene Disaster Recovery Fund ($225 million).
Stein said in his proposal he would make additional Helene-related requests for the next fiscal year. He made his funding proposal announcement during a Feb. 3 press conference at MANNA Food Bank, a nonprofit organization in Mills River that works with 200 food bank partners.
General Assembly leadership has yet to comment on the proposal.
In his proposal to the General Assembly, Stein noted President Donald Trump’s recent trip to the state and wrote that even though he believes the federal government will be a “strong partner” in recovery, it will take months for that money to get to the areas it needs to in the impacted counties.
“We cannot remain reactive to temporary solutions and federal program management to drive our response. Rather we must proactively face the challenges confronting the west,” Stein wrote.
The governor’s proposal breaks the spending down into five categories:
- Strengthening the Economy ($295 million)
- $100M for business recovery grants (up to $75K per business)
- $50M for partnership grants targeting businesses without taxable sales
- $30M for small town infrastructure revitalization
- $15M for tourism promotion
- $100M for local government revenue replacement
- Safe and Warm Places to Live ($263 million)
- $150M for home reconstruction and repair
- $50M for affordable housing development
- $25M each for rental/mortgage assistance and homeowner/renter unmet needs
- $10M for housing stabilization services
- $3M for disaster legal services
- Repairing Infrastructure ($310.6 million)
- $75M for private road and bridge repairs
- $135M for state facilities repair
- $25M each for local parks and flood abatement
- $20M for state agency operations
- Various smaller allocations for debris removal, power backup and septic repairs.
- Supporting Farmers ($146.9 million)
- $100M for waterway and land rehabilitation
- $15M for farmer recovery grants
- $16.1M for fire season preparation
- $12.5M for farm/forest preservation
- $3.4M for wildfire risk reduction
- Families and Children ($56.2 million)
- $34.2M for K-12 summer learning programs
- $20M for food bank grants
- $2M for emergency student aid
Stein’s proposal is in addition to an announcement of $30 million in grants for businesses impacted by Hurricane Helene.
Grants of up to $50,000 for eligible businesses can be obtained with help from a public-private partnership with Dogwood Health Trust and will be administered by Appalachian Community Capital.
Criteria for eligibility and the means to apply can be done through the Appalachian Community Capital portal. All applications need to be submitted by 11:59 p.m. on Feb. 21.
