North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein is asking state lawmakers to approve $891 million in new relief for Hurricane Helene, signaling Monday that federal aid was continuing to dwindle and would not meet the needs of the western mountains.
Stein’s request — his second for hurricane aid since taking office in January — asks the General Assembly to infuse more than a quarter of a billion dollars into the western economy, including long-requested forgivable loans and grants for businesses. And it outlines investments to rebuild infrastructure, improve long-term housing and prepare for regional wildfires.
The state money will be especially crucial, the governor wrote, with pledged aid from the federal government “slow and uncertain.”
“I will continue to advocate for western North Carolina to our federal partners,” Stein wrote. “However, we suspect the burden will fall increasingly on state and local organizations.”
The legislature, which is controlled by Republicans, is unlikely to follow Stein’s request to the letter. But lawmakers have pledged to continue allocating aid, albeit with a more conservative approach. Helene aid will likely be considered as a separate bill from the larger state budget.
Stein asks for $891 million. Here are the highlights.
The largest line-item in Stein’s request is $100 million for the state to continue earning reimbursement from the feds. And he’s asking for an additional $50 million to cover “projects that neither federal and state programs nor insurance will support.”
Among other provisions:
A combined $100 million would go toward aid for small businesses — $50 million for forgivable loans and $50 million for grants. School districts without flood insurance would see $70 million for repairs. $50 million would fund stream debris removal, stabilization and farm infrastructure repairs. Local governments facing budget shortfalls would see $40 million for revenue replacement. Efforts to prevent and fight wildfires would see a $37 million infusion. Tourism promotion and business adaptation efforts would get $15 million. A combined $40 million would fund utility, rental and mortgage assistance, as well as efforts to prevent homelessness.The legislature has thus far allocated a total of $1.6 billion for Helene relief. Around $1.4 billion has been appropriated, and another $202 million has been marked for spending but not yet sent out the door. The state’s last aid package, passed in March with bipartisan approval, totaled $524 million.
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