North Carolina Secures $1.65B in Federal Block Grants for Helene Recovery Efforts

ASHEVILLE, N.C.:  Governments in North Carolina are getting more than $1.65 billion in federal block grant funds to assist in mitigating the extensive damage caused by Hurricane Helene in western North Carolina. The funds — $1.43 billion for the North Carolina state government and $225 million for Asheville city — come from Community Development Block Grant allocations. According to officials, the funds originate from a bill passed by Congress last month which allocated over $100 billion for relief efforts to tackle Helene and other disasters. 

ALSO READ: Qatar Reportedly Aims to Support Syrian Government Salary Enhancements

Hurricane Helene Recovery

The funds will “help rebuild homes, develop affordable housing, assist impacted small businesses, and repair roads, schools, water treatment plants and other critical infrastructure,” U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Agency Head Adrianne Todman said in a news release from new Gov. Josh Stein’s office. Todman and Stein announced the block grants while visiting Asheville on Tuesday. U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., who also was involved in the legislation, said in a separate release revealing the grants that it “is a crucial step in the long journey toward recovery for Western North Carolina.”

Governor Stein Establishes Recovery Office for Western North Carolina Post-Storm Helene

The Asheville announcement marked the second public trip by Stein to the storm-battered region struck since he was sworn in on Jan. 1. On the first trip last Thursday, Stein announced several executive orders, including some addressing temporary housing units for displaced residents and repairs to private roads and bridges.Another executive order from Stein last week created a new Governor’s Recovery Office for Western North Carolina that would oversee the work of the executive branch and its agencies on recovery and revitalization. Earlier Tuesday, Stein announced top staff in the recovery office. The office director will be Matt Calabria, a veteran Wake County commissioner and the commission’s current chairman. Calabria had said last week he would be stepping down from the commission for a new job in Stein’s administration.

ALSO READ: ২০২৫ চনত যদি জেন জেডে এই সূত্ৰ গ্ৰহণ কৰে, তেন্তে তেওঁলোক নিমিষতে কোটিপতি হ’ব পাৰে! টিপছ শিকিব