North Raleigh Today

The North Carolina Department of Commerce has launched efforts to aid recovery in western North Carolina, following the impact of Hurricane Helene. The initiatives include creating a new Division focused on recovery and developing a $1.4 billion Action Plan to rebuild homes. Additionally, more than $91 million in disaster-related unemployment insurance benefits have been disbursed, alongside securing a $10 million federal grant aimed at helping local workforce boards.

"It’s all hands on deck at Commerce to help our friends and neighbors impacted by Helene to recover as quickly as possible," stated North Carolina Commerce Secretary Lee Lilley. He highlighted the financial and technical support extended to the region over the past six months. Secretary Lilley awaits federal approval of the state’s housing recovery program and appreciates the support from the North Carolina General Assembly.

On March 26, the state submitted its final Action Plan to the U.S. Housing and Urban Development agency, a critical step for accessing the $1.4 billion Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery award. The plan targets unmet hurricane recovery needs, focusing on housing and economic revitalization.

A new Division of Community Revitalization, led by Stephanie McGarrah, has been instituted to manage the federal grant. This division is expected to remain efficient while hiring qualified personnel in finance, procurement, and legal affairs. A Request for Proposals has been published to find a private-sector partner to aid in implementing the federal grant's execution, with interested parties required to submit proposals by April 14.

Other departments within the Commerce have also been involved in recovery efforts. The Division of Employment Security has dispensed over $91 million in unemployment benefits related to the disaster, processing 36,530 claims since the hurricane. The division also managed the Disaster Unemployment Assistance program, which has seen more claims than those following previous hurricanes.

The Division of Workforce Solutions has engaged local workforce boards and deployed teams to assist those affected by employment disruptions. A $10 million grant secured from the U.S. Department of Labor supports the provision of jobs and training services in areas severely impacted by the hurricane. The program aims to employ eligible residents in roles contributing to storm clean-up and recovery efforts or humanitarian assistance.

Furthermore, Commerce's Rural Economic Development Division, along with its Appalachian Regional Commission office, has facilitated a $3.5 million award to Mountain BizWorks for the WNC Strong: Helene Business Recovery Fund. The Department’s Labor & Economic Analysis Division is actively monitoring and reporting on the storm's economic impacts.

For additional details on the recovery efforts in western North Carolina, visit commerce.nc.gov/recovery.