Stein Unveils $50M Grant Program for Hurricane Helene Recovery in Western N.C.

Governor Josh Stein announced a $50 million state-funded grant program on Sept. 22 to help local governments in western North Carolina recover from Hurricane Helene. The Helene Local Government Capital Grants, administered by the Office of State Budget and Management (OSBM), will fund repairs, renovations, or replacements of infrastructure damaged by the storm.

“Local governments are on the front lines of rebuilding communities and restoring services after Hurricane Helene, and I thank the General Assembly for investing in them,” Stein said. “These grants will help towns and counties across western North Carolina bolster critical infrastructure that keeps people safe.”

The program is open to units of local government and federally recognized tribes with capital improvement needs caused by the hurricane, specifically in areas designated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Projects must have been denied FEMA Public Assistance (PA) reimbursement to qualify.

OSBM’s Kristin Walker emphasized state support for local recovery efforts. “Our staff looks forward to working with our partners in recovery at the local level,” she said.

Eligible projects must fall within FEMA-designated areas and meet statutory caps per recipient and county. Grants will prioritize local governments or tribes with populations under 300,000 and projects that qualify in whole or in part for FEMA Public Assistance Categories C through G.

Applications are due by midnight on Nov. 21, 2025. Interested local governments and tribes can find guidance, a pre-application checklist, and the online application at the OSBM website. OSBM will also host informational webinars for applicants.

Nonprofit organizations and other entities that received FEMA PA funding or were not eligible for FEMA PA are not eligible for these grants. Only projects previously submitted to FEMA PA and denied are considered.

The $50 million program includes statutory award caps: up to 20% of funds may go to a single county, with a 5% cap per recipient and per ZIP code for certain smaller projects.

For more information, visit the Helene Local Government Capital Grant Program.