Home All 50 US States All USA Updates Minute by Minute North Carolina governments receive $1.65 billion in federal block grants for Helene recovery efforts.

North Carolina governments receive $1.65 billion in federal block grants for Helene recovery efforts.

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ASHEVILLE, N.C. — The state of North Carolina is set to receive more than $1.65 billion in federal block grant funding aimed at addressing the severe damages inflicted by Hurricane Helene in the western part of the state.

This substantial funding package comprises $1.43 billion designated for state government efforts and an additional $225 million specifically allocated for the city of Asheville. These funds are derived from Community Development Block Grant resources, made available through a congressional bill passed last month that allocated over $100 billion in disaster relief funding for various calamities, including Hurricane Helene.

According to Adrianne Todman, head of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the grants will facilitate essential recovery initiatives. These initiatives will include reconstructing homes, establishing affordable housing, supporting affected small businesses, and restoring critical infrastructure such as roads, schools, and water treatment facilities.

The announcement of these grants took place during a visit to Asheville by Todman and newly inaugurated Governor Josh Stein on Tuesday. U.S. Senator Thom Tillis, R-N.C., who played a role in the legislation’s passage, stated that this funding represents “a crucial step in the long journey toward recovery for Western North Carolina” in a separate declaration regarding the grants.

This event marks Stein’s second public engagement in the storm-affected area since beginning his term on January 1. During his previous visit last Thursday, Stein unveiled several executive orders concerning temporary housing arrangements for those displaced by the storm and initiatives for repairing private roads and bridges.

Additionally, last week, Stein established a new office dedicated to recovery in Western North Carolina, which will supervise the executive branch’s recovery and revitalization efforts. Earlier on Tuesday, he revealed the key personnel for this recovery office, appointing Matt Calabria as director. Calabria, who has been a long-time Wake County commissioner and is currently the chairman of that commission, announced last week his intention to resign from his position to take on this new role within Stein’s administration.