Nc gov. Stein highlights the needs during post-helene financing despite $ 110 million in new grants
Caroline du Nord (Wlos) – North Carolina Governor Josh Stein said there was still a need for funding for small businesses, despite recent announcements that will contribute $ 110 million in two grant programs.
A state program, in collaboration with Dogwood Health Trust and The Duke Endowment, has just finished the distribution of $ 55 million directly in the pockets of 2,812 small local businesses.
A separate program of $ 55 million, offered by the Division of Rural Economic Development of the Ministry of Commerce, now accepts applications from local governments for subsidies to rebuild vital public infrastructure to small businesses.
“An opportunity for everyone”: a new subsidy of $ 55 million aims to revitalize small companies in the WNC
“If you are a small business and you get a subsidy that helps you pay, but the sidewalk is completely destroyed outside your business, you will not be able to succeed,” Stein told News 13.
The program, open to any municipality impacted by Helene, will distribute up to $ 1 million for projects ranging from water and high speed sewers.
“This will help cities to hire this entrepreneur who can build this infrastructure that will support the whole economy of this community,” said Stein.
The subsidies, awarded at first arrival, first served, will be implemented in projects helping small businesses with 150 employees or less.
$ 55 million in emergency funds to support more than 2,800 small WNC companies
The funding comes from the first Helene recovery bill in 2025. A spokesperson for Buncombe county said that the county was planning to apply.
Stein told News 13 that he had not finished supporting small businesses or Helene Relief; He is preparing his request to the General Assembly for the second Hélène aid bill this year.
“We started to bring together the structure of our request,” said Stein. “We have preliminary conversations with the legislative assembly, and I hope that in the week or the next two weeks, we will announce our request for additional credits.”
