RALEIGH — U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced an additional $155 million in reimbursement funds is headed to North Carolina for Hurricane Helene and other recovery projects.
“President Trump and Secretary Noem are committed to streamlining aid and supporting North Carolina’s recovery from Tropical Storm Helene and other disasters,” a senior spokesperson for Noem’s agency said in a Nov. 7 press release. “These millions of dollars in federal assistance will help communities repair critical infrastructure, restore essential services and continue rebuilding stronger for the future.”
The press release included a list of $123.1 million in funds already sent to the state spread out over eight different projects centering on infrastructure, repairs, utilities, debris removal and more.
The Department of Homeland Security’s press statement also noted that the state has received more than $957 million to date for “road repair, debris removal, critical infrastructure repair and emergency protective measures for the 2024 Hurricane Season.”
Additionally, more than $632 million in public assistance reimbursements has been approved for North Carolina disaster recovery efforts since Jan. 20.
North Carolina Republican Sen. Ted Budd thanked Noem and her agency ahead of the formal announcement.
“I am grateful to Secretary Noem for approving $155 million in public assistance funding to reimburse Western North Carolina communities following Hurricane Helene,” said Budd in a Nov. 4 statement. “These funds are vital to ensure cleanup and rebuilding efforts do not continue to strain local government budgets more than a year later.
“After numerous conversations with Secretary Noem about ensuring that new Helene recovery projects receive swift approval and reimbursement, I have agreed to lift my hold on the DHS General Counsel nominee, James Percival, as soon as the approved funds are received by Western North Carolina communities.”
Gov. Josh Stein also announced a second tranche of grants for 19 small business recovery projects totaling $13.8 million. The grants are awarded through the North Carolina Department of Commerce’s Small Business Infrastructure Grant Program, or SmBIZ.
“This new round of local government recovery grants is a much-needed shot in the arm to the main streets that businesses depend on,” Stein said in a press release. ”I’m proud of the work being done to restore critical infrastructure and help these communities recover. I thank the General Assembly for funding this vital investment in our small business economy.
Matt Calabria, director of Stein’s Recovery Office for Western NC, announced new ways to check for recovery resources through the Recovery Resources Hub, as well as underscoring a dedicated page for grant and funding deadlines.
Deadlines for various grants and programs through the end of 2025 located on the Governor’s Recovery Office for Western North Carolina (GROW NC) website include:
- Nov. 21 — Deadline to apply for capital grants to repair, renovate, or replace infrastructure through the Helene Local Government Capital Grants Program
- Nov. 24 — Deadline for interested broadband providers to submit applications and estimated costs for the Broadband Recovery Program.
- Nov. 28 — Deadline for local governments and nonprofit organizations to apply for assistance through the Disaster Relief and Mitigation Fund.
- Dec. 11 — Deadline for volunteer organizations actively involved in ongoing repair and reconstruction projects to apply for the Volunteer Organizations Active in Rebuilds Disaster Grant Program – Phase Two.
- Dec. 12 — Deadline for dam owners to apply for grant funding to repair, modify or remove an eligible dam to meet applicable North Carolina dam safety standards through the state’s Dam Safety Program.
- Dec 31 — Deadline to apply for assistance with repairing or rebuilding homes impacted by Hurricane Helene through the Renew NC Single Family Housing Program.
