Help Available for Local Governments Affected by Florence | Eastern North Carolina Now

    Press Release:

More Than $7 Million Already Awarded to Help Towns, Counties with Hurricane Recovery

    RALEIGH: Help is now available for local governments working to recover from Hurricane Florence, with more than $7 million in grants and loans already provided, Governor Roy Cooper announced today.

    The North Carolina Office of Recovery and Resiliency (NCORR) has launched two programs to assist local governments that are struggling financially in the wake of Hurricane Florence.

    "Communities are working to clean up and rebuild following Hurricane Florence and some local governments need help to get them through this extraordinary time," said Governor Roy Cooper. "Grants and loans are available to towns, cities and counties so they can continue to meet the needs of their residents while recovering from storm damage."

    Several communities have already received grants and loans totaling more than $7 million to help with operating costs and recovery expenses, including the following:

    Grants

        • Pollocksville - $500,000

        • Fair Bluff - $500,000

        • Cape Carteret - $500,000

        • Robbins - $500,000

        • River Bend - $300,000

    Loans

        • Fair Bluff - $2 million

        • Robbins - $1.6 million

        • Town of Beaufort - $1 million

        • River Bend - $800,000

    Grants of up to $1 million are available to eligible local governments to provide short-term assistance with everyday operating expenses, such as general payroll, certain non-disaster-related vendor payments, and debt service. Grant funds can also be used to provide additional capacity for disaster recovery by funding up to two time-limited positions, contracting for disaster recovery services, and purchasing a vehicle.

    Eligible local governments can also apply for 0% interest loans of up to $2 million to assist with covering disaster-related expenses while waiting for reimbursement from various federal disaster response, recovery, and resiliency programs. Approved local governments would repay the loan principal amount upon receipt of federal reimbursement.

    Both programs are ongoing and use funds from the State Disaster Recovery Act. There is no deadline for applications, but NCORR will stop taking applications once all funds are awarded.

    To learn more or apply, visit: https://www.rebuild.nc.gov/available-assistance/assistance-local-governments or email ncorrgrants@ncdps.gov.

• Contact: Ford Porter
•     govpress@nc.gov