NC House’s New Helene Relief Package Includes Grants for WNC Small Businesses

By Galen Bacharier

Western North Carolina’s small businesses and local governments would see grant money under a new relief package proposed by the state House, fulfilling longtime asks from the region.

The House aid package, announced Wednesday, comes one day after Gov. Josh Stein asked for $891 million in new relief. He warned of slow and dwindling federal aid, saying the state would likely have to shoulder more of the burden going forward.

Inside the $450 million House plan is $60 million to send disaster grants to small businesses in western North Carolina. Businesses could see up to 25% of their economic loss or $75,000, whichever is less, according to the bill.

A grant program has been the number one request of the business community since Helene hit last fall. Lawmakers have previously opted to create loans, but many regional business owners have said they could not take on any more debt.

Local governments would also see $50 million in grant money to help repair and replace infrastructure. That could help offset mounting costs for those governments as they face looming budget shortfalls, driven by both damages and lost tourism revenue.

The money for the new aid package would come in part from the private nonprofit NC Innovation. Republican lawmakers have for months said they plan to claw back public dollars from the group to fund other priorities.

Also included in the House’s aid package:

• $70 million to qualify for continued reimbursement from the feds.
• $30 million to continue repairing private roads and bridges.
• $30 million for debris removal, including on farms.
• $25 million for construction on destroyed schools.
• $25 million to “improve airport infrastructure” for the region to better respond to disaster.
• $25 million to rebuild farm infrastructure.
• $20 million for volunteer organizations aiding in recovery.
• $18 million for grants to fire stations and EMS.
• $15 million for firefighting equipment and Forest Service contract workers.
• $8 million to repair damaged schools.

Lawmakers have thus far spent $1.4 billion total on relief for Hurricane Helene. Their last aid package, passed in March, laid out $524 million. That package prioritized aid for farmers and spinning up a state homebuilding program.

The House plan is set to be considered by the appropriations committee Wednesday afternoon. Lawmakers in the chamber are also advancing their proposal for the state budget this week.

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