A Look Back at June: Recovery News and Updates from Western North Carolina

June brought continued momentum across Western North Carolina, with two significant funding announcements signaling that recovery efforts are reaching deeper into the region's infrastructure. Here is a look at what was happening this month.

WNC Streams and Rivers Continue to Be Cleaned Up

The NC Soil and Water Conservation Commission approved Round 2 awards through the Stream Rehabilitation Assistance Program (StRAP), distributing nearly $9.8 million across 13 grantees covering 108 eligible sites throughout western North Carolina. Round 3 awards are expected later in June.

The work being funded spans the full range of what Helene left behind in the region's waterways: stream debris removal, streambank stabilization, sediment removal, and full stream restoration. Counties receiving Round 2 awards include Alleghany, Ashe, Buncombe, Caldwell, Jackson, McDowell, Mitchell, Rutherford, Watauga, and Wilkes, with individual awards ranging from $29,154 to $1,496,250 depending on the scope of need and the county funding cap.

Some of the larger awards reflect the scale of damage in those areas. Caldwell SWCD received $1,496,250 to address 18 sites of stream debris removal. Mitchell SWCD received the same amount covering 17 sites of both debris removal and streambank stabilization. Wilkes SWCD, which had the highest number of eligible sites at 21, received $526,154 for stream debris removal.

Both Soil and Water Conservation Districts and conservation organizations like the New River Conservancy are among the grantees, reflecting the kind of cross-sector collaboration that is moving this work forward.

For more information on the StRAP program and upcoming Round 3 awards, visit ncagr.gov.

$25 Million Awarded for Community Recycling Infrastructure Across WNC

On June 2nd, NC Department of Environmental Quality Secretary Reid Wilson visited McDowell County to announce $25 million in grants for 16 projects across western North Carolina through the Helene Recovery Recycling Infrastructure (HRRI) grant program. The funding comes from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency through 2024 federal disaster recovery legislation.

Governor Josh Stein spoke directly to what this investment means for communities still in the middle of rebuilding: "Western North Carolinians have worked hard to recover over the past 20 months, but communities are still rebuilding critical infrastructure. These grants will help local governments better manage waste and prepare for future storms."

It is worth noting the scale of unmet need. DEACS received 45 applications totaling $145 million. The $25 million awarded leaves nearly $100 million in unmet requests, which speaks to just how widespread the damage to waste and recycling infrastructure truly was.

The 16 communities receiving awards span Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Graham, Haywood, Jackson, Macon, McDowell, Mitchell, Rutherford, Watauga, Wilkes, and Yancey counties, as well as the towns of Black Mountain and Marshall. The projects range from replacing equipment and restoring damaged facilities to larger infrastructure investments like Buncombe County's $3.5 million construction and demolition waste diversion project and Jackson County's $3 million plan to build an entirely new transfer station in the Cashiers area, a community that is frequently cut off by landslides during storms.

For the full list of recipients and project details, visit the DEACS webpage.

The Work Continues

These are just two of the recovery stories coming out of WNC this June. There is meaningful work happening across the region every single day, and the investments announced this month will have lasting impact on how communities manage waste and restore their waterways for years to come.

To follow more recovery stories and stay up to date on what is happening on the ground, visit the Governor's Recovery Office at wncrecovery.nc.gov/recovery-stories.

Western North Carolina is open, and there are real ways to support it right now. Which of these updates is most relevant to your community or work? I would love to hear what you are seeing on the ground.

With gratitude and hope,

Sharon