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WNC Recovery (GrowNC) sent a newsletter with updates on progress, and grants…
Important Dates and Deadlines
Below are featured Hurricane Helene recovery programs with approaching deadlines. Visit the GROW NC website to find additional programs in our
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September 23, 2026 – Deadline for eligible entities to express interest in the NC Department of Information Technology’s Broadband Satellite Resiliency Grant program, supporting the purchase of equipment that can deliver satellite internet service, as well as related installation materials.
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October 12, 2026 – Deadline for timber landowners with at least 10 acres of timber loss to apply for grant funding through the Timber Loss Relief Program
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October 16, 2026 – Deadline for nonprofit organizations actively involved in ongoing repair and reconstruction projects from Hurricane Helene to apply for grant funding through the Volunteer Organization Recovery Fund Grant Round 3. Applications are due on October 16, 2026, no later than 5 p.m.
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November 2, 2026 – Deadline for NC Community Colleges and University of North Carolina (UNC) System campuses that serve the counties affected by Tropical Storms Helene and Debby to apply for funding to support the construction of campus child care centers.
Grants for Nonprofit Organizations Repairing & Rebuilding Homes
Nonprofit organizations actively involved in ongoing housing repair and reconstruction projects from Hurricane Helene have until October 16 to apply for grant funding through the Volunteer Organization Recovery Fund Grant Round 3. An initial $35 million is available, appropriated by the General Assembly and administered by the NC Division of Emergency Management. Projects can be 100% funded with no local cost share and paid on a reimbursement basis. Applications are due by 5 p.m. October 16, 2026.
Capital Grants for Child Care Facilities
The application window is open for $20 million in grant funding to build and expand child care programs in communities impacted by Hurricane Helene and Tropical Storm Debby. This funding is part of a total $75 million federal grant for Helene- and Debby-impacted areas announced earlier this year through the American Relief Act’s Disaster Supplemental Funds for Child Care.
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Applicants are encouraged to notify the North Carolina Division of Child Development and Early Education of their intent to apply no later than 5 p.m. October 6, 2026.
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A Pre-Application Conference will take place on October 6 at 1:30 pm.
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Applications must be received no later than 5 p.m. November 2, 2026.
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Inquiries concerning this application process should be sent in writing to: DCDEE.Contracts.Unit.RFA@dhhs.nc.gov.
Disaster Recovery Funding for Child Care Providers
Federal funding remains available for eligible child care providers to help offset storm-related damages, losses, and recovery costs associated with Hurricane Helene and Tropical Storm Debby. The NC Division of Child Development and Early Education Disaster Impact Report Portal serves as the primary mechanism for providers to document impacts, submit supporting information, and request reimbursement or recovery assistance. Providers may continue applying until their needs are met.
For information about state recovery funds allocated by the NC General Assembly to the NC Partnership for Children that are available to child care providers, please email: helenerecovery@smartstart.org.
Broadband Satellite Resiliency Grants
On September 10, the N.C. Department of Information Technology (NCDIT) announced a $1 million notice of funding opportunity for the Broadband Satellite Resiliency Grant program designed to strengthen local resiliency and provide high-speed internet redundancy for public and community institutions serving North Carolinians. The program provides funding for satellite “resilience in a box” tools to preserve essential communications when other networks go down during emergencies and natural disasters.
Applications are open statewide, but priority will be given to organizations operating in the 39 North Carolina counties designated in the Hurricane Helene federal disaster area. Entities interested in participating must complete the NCDIT Application and Certification Form by September 23.
WNC Regional Communications Resiliency Project
After Hurricane Helene, Land of Sky Regional Council and Information Technology Disaster Resource Center worked with local governments, emergency managers, public safety and industry partners, nonprofits, and community anchor institutions to document where communications failed across western North Carolina and what it would take to keep communities connected through the next disruption, whether the cause is physical damage or a cyber event. That work became the WNC Regional Communications Resiliency Plan.
The organizations are now collecting project ideas tied to the plan’s goals so they can determine where to invest next. Tell them about work your organization is already doing, something you’ve been wanting to start, or a need for which you don’t yet have a solution. Completing this form does not guarantee funding or project selection.
N.C. Forest Service Receives Nearly $65 Million to Help Restore National Forests
The U.S. Forest Service and the North Carolina Forest Service (NCFS) announced a nearly $65 million, 10-year Good Neighbor Agreement to support Hurricane Helene recovery efforts in western North Carolina. Under the comprehensive agreement, the NCFS will reduce hazardous fuels across areas of wildland-urban interface impacted by the storm, as well as develop strategies to address non-native and invasive species that can potentially thrive in the aftermath of a landscape-scale disturbance. The agreement will also increase the pace of forest restoration while bringing new job opportunities to the impacted area.
Interest Relief for Individuals and Businesses in Helene Disaster Counties
The North Carolina Department of Revenue (NCDOR) announced additional interest relief for eligible individuals and businesses located in Hurricane Helene disaster counties.
The relief applies to certain:
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Individual and corporate income taxes
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Franchise taxes
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Partnership, estate, and trust taxes
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Withholding taxes
NCDOR will automatically apply the relief when eligible taxpayers can be identified. Taxpayers who were assessed qualifying interest may also request relief by submitting Form NC-5502 and writing “Hurricane Helene” as the reason for the request.
Governor’s Advisory Committee on Western North Carolina Recovery
On August 21, the Governor’s Advisory Committee on Western North Carolina Recovery met virtually to discuss recovery updates, including housing recovery progress, rural recovery programs, and economic indicators for western North Carolina. The next meeting will be held on September 25 from 10 a.m. until noon on the campus of Mars Hill University. Find meeting links and materials on our WNC Recovery website, including details about future meetings of the Resilience Subcommittee.