The Governor's Response and Recovery Fund (GRRF) was established by law on February 12, 2025, to address unmet disaster recovery needs during extraordinary circumstances. For 2025, Governor Lee has authorized the GRRF to support government agencies, nonprofit organizations, businesses, and farmers or foresters impacted by Tropical Storm Helene in Upper East Tennessee. This specific application is tailored for farmers as defined under TCA 2-2-122(c)(2) and TCA 67-5-1004(1).
Eligible applicants must be located in one of 14 designated counties: Carter, Claiborne, Cocke, Grainger, Greene, Hamblen, Hancock, Hawkins, Jefferson, Johnson, Sevier, Sullivan, Unicoi, or Washington County. Applicants must demonstrate direct damages, revenue losses, or operational disruptions resulting from Tropical Storm Helene and provide supporting documentation. Projects must show reasonable cost and a clear link between storm-related impacts and the requested funding.
All applicants must submit their applications online by May 31, 2025, and, if selected, must have or obtain an Edison payment system account. Funding must be used solely for the project described in the application. Funding disbursement is not guaranteed and is contingent on eligibility, completeness of application, funding availability, and adherence to all program requirements.
Applicants can request funding for asset replacement, structural repairs, operational recovery, or other disaster-related needs. Applications must include a narrative of the farm’s operations, documentation of pre- and post-disaster conditions, financial documentation, and a cost projection breakdown for project phases. Farmers may apply even if they have received FEMA, SBA, or USDA assistance, provided that no duplication of benefits occurs.
