News

$465M Helene recovery bill includes farm relief, private road repair

Jennifer Balkcom

By Lightning Reports, Published: May 24, 2025

A $464.75 million Hurricane Helene recovery bill the North Carolina House adopted this week includes $60 million in small business grants, $30 million to repair private roads and bridges, $25 million for rebuilding farm infrastructure and other disaster aid, state Rep. Jennifer Balkcom announced.

“This bill is personal for me,” Balkcom said in a news release. “Helene didn’t just damage roads, homes, and farmland – it disrupted lives and shook the foundation of our communities. But today’s legislation proves we haven’t been forgotten. We’re rebuilding not just structures, but hope.”

The recovery plan for communities devastated by and wildfires across Western North Carolina approved in 106-0 vote on Thursday marked the fifth round of Helene recovery funds, bringing the total House allocations to $1.85 billion. The bill awaits action in the N.C. Senate.

“We didn’t draft this bill in a vacuum," Balkcom said. "We asked those on the ground — farmers, fire chiefs, school superintendents — what they needed, and we delivered. This bill is about making sure that money goes where it matters.”
The bill includes:
• $60 million for small business recovery grants.
• $70 million in required state match funds for FEMA disaster relief.
• $50 million for unmet infrastructure needs of local governments.
• $30 million to repair private roads and bridges.
• $25 million for rebuilding farm infrastructure.
• $25 million to restore schools and $8 million to support school facility repairs.
• $20 million for flood mitigation and disaster preparedness.
• $18 million in fire & EMS grants and $15 million for wildfire readiness.
• $20 million to support volunteer aid organizations that were frontline responders.
The bill also redirects $500 million from NCInnovation and underused funds, ensuring a fiscally responsible recovery effort.