Western NC Recovery Grants Program

The Western NC Recovery Grants Program was established by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to direct federal and state funding into rural communities impacted by the devastation of Hurricane Helene. The program provides direct, free-of-charge grant writing support to rural towns, counties, and regions across Western North Carolina, offering a comprehensive approach to long-term financial planning through grant strategies that leverage state funds. This technical assistance program is designed to increase federal and state funding for recovery and rebuilding projects within communities affected by the hurricane. The Western NC Recovery team has hired dedicated grants staff to work directly with town, county, or council of government staff on grant applications, offering customized support to each agency. For organizations that already have a grant application selected or underway, the team can provide support with either technical assistance, such as drafting portions of a grant application, reviewing and making recommendations, or full grant writing support. For those that do not yet know which opportunity is right for them, the support begins by learning more about the project and helping the organization select the programs most suited for the work. The team then works with a designated member of the agency's staff to develop a compelling grant narrative and source all required information for each federal or state grant opportunity. Eligibility for the program focuses primarily on local governments in rural communities within the federal government's 39 Major Disaster-Declared counties across Western North Carolina. Nonprofits in an active partnership with a local government can also receive funding research and grant support. Organizations must have a 501(c)(3) or government legal status to participate, though those with an active fiscal sponsor of at least two years may also be eligible. Governments under active Local Government Commission management are generally ineligible for most federal and state funded programs until the management period has ended. Organizations seeking construction funding must have site control or ownership to be eligible for state construction or infrastructure programs. To request assistance, interested parties complete an online form on the DEQ website providing their name, agency, contact information, agency type (municipal government, county government, council of government, nonprofit, or other), population of coverage area, whether they have already received funding for the project, whether their organization has a grant writer on staff, and a project summary of up to 500 words describing the project for which they are seeking grant support, including any identified funders, preliminary budget estimates, and expected impact. The program is led by Ashley Traynum-Carson, Grants Director, who can be reached at [email protected] for questions about whether an agency or project is a good fit for the program. Emily Adair is also available as a contact at [email protected]. The program is currently open with no stated application deadline, accepting requests for assistance on a rolling basis as part of the ongoing Hurricane Helene recovery effort in Western North Carolina.

Clearly identify whether you already have a specific grant opportunity in mind or need help selecting the right program, as the team tailors its support accordingly. Include preliminary budget estimates and expected impact in your project summary to help the team match you with appropriate funding sources. If you are a nonprofit, be prepared to demonstrate your active partnership with a local government. During federal government shutdowns, the team focuses on state funding applications, so consider state programs as a priority.