More than $165.9 million in federal funding has been approved for North Carolina to support public assistance grant projects, including reimbursements for costs related to the COVID-19 pandemic and disaster recovery following Hurricane Helene and other events.
The funding was announced after President Trump and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Noem gave their approval. The total includes $73.8 million from COVID-era grants and $92.1 million for disaster recovery after Hurricane Helene.
Senator Ted Budd (R-N.C.) released a statement regarding the development: “Since Democrats irresponsibly shut down DHS, I have been working with President Trump, his administration, and colleagues in Congress like Rep. Chuck Edwards toward a solution that will allow Helene aid to flow despite the current shutdown posture. I am proud to announce that these efforts, in conjunction with Secretary Noem, have resulted in tens of millions of additional PA grant funding being approved for Western North Carolina. This solution will not last forever, as FEMA’s reserves will run dry without reopening DHS. Democrats in Congress have made it clear they will accept no limited funding proposals for DHS’s subagencies, but I will continue to urge my colleagues to come to the table and negotiate so that FEMA’s important work is not impacted by a prolonged partisan political fight,” said Senator Budd.
The newly approved $73.8 million in outstanding COVID-19 Public Assistance (PA) funding is allocated among several organizations across North Carolina, including the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS), Henderson County Hospital Corporation, Mecklenburg County, Harnett Health System Inc., Wake Forest University, Novant Health Inc., Caromont Health, Duke University Health System, Blue Ridge Healthcare Hospitals Inc., and Catawba Valley Medical Center.
Additionally, just over $3 million was granted to the Town of North Topsail Beach for constructing an emergency berm as a protective measure.
Numerous local governments and agencies received federal funds for debris removal operations or permanent repairs resulting from Hurricane Helene under various sections of the Robert T. Stafford Act. Recipients include Biltmore Forest ($2.5 million), Ashe County ($3.4 million), Madison County ($1.9 million), Blue Ridge Electric Membership ($7 million), Burke County (over $11 million combined from two awards), Metropolitan Sewerage District of Buncombe County ($1.6 million), NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources ($4.4 million), Old Fort ($1.1 million), NC Department of Transportation divisions across multiple counties (receiving several awards ranging from approximately $1–$4 million each), Mitchell County ($11.9 million), Caldwell County ($2.2 million), Buncombe County ($3.6 million), Asheville city water treatment plant repairs ($5 million), Lake Lure safety facilities ($1.3 million) among others.
These grants are intended for both immediate response activities such as debris removal and emergency protective measures as well as long-term infrastructure repairs on roads, bridges, utilities systems, parks facilities and more.
