Each year Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) provides funding for projects throughout the Appalachian Region of North Carolina. Projects approved for ARC assistance must support one of five general goals: (1) Building Appalachian Businesses, (2) Building Appalachia's Workforce Ecosystem, (3) Building Appalachia's Infrastructure, (4) Building Regional Culture and Tourism, and (5) Building Community Leaders and Capacity. Eligible applicants are public entities (cities, towns, counties, regions, public service districts) and nonprofit organizations.
Topics Related to Business or Nonprofit Organizations
The Renew NC Small Rental Rehabilitation Program helps eligible rental property owners (landlords) repair, reconstruct, or replace small rental properties (1–4 units) damaged by Hurricane Helene.
Nonprofit arts organizations in western North Carolina that have experienced ongoing physical and/or economic impacts from Hurricane Helene can apply for support through the ArtsAVL Nonprofit Arts Recovery Grant Program. The program provides flexible recovery funding to help organizations stabilize operations, address storm-related impacts, and restore access to arts and cultural programming. Grant awards range from $2,500 to $20,000 and are awarded based on demonstrated need, recovery readiness, and overall alignment with program goals. Apply by 11:59 p.m. on April 6, 2026.
This booklet was created for schools, families, and communities in western North Carolina recovering from Hurricane Helene. This guide is meant to be practical, easy to share, and accessible to people of all ages and backgrounds.
You can use this booklet to:
The Division of Soil & Water Conservation is accepting applications for the Streamflow Rehabilitation Assistance Program (StRAP) in counties affected by Hurricane Helene. This process makes $38 million available for projects to repair stream damage caused by Hurricane Helene. Additional information is available about these application windows, including guidance on completing applications.
Application Windows
Charitable organizations across western North Carolina have year-round access to an inventory of tools and equipment from the Charlotte ToolBank. Borrowing ToolBank tools is inexpensive, convenient and fully functional, intended to improve community engagement and achieve greater impact.
Income-eligible homeowners and renters across the state can get help with energy upgrades through HOMES (Homeowners Managing Efficiency Savings) and HEAR (Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates). Applying is easy: online, by email, phone, or mail.
Eligible applicants for the Economic Development Administration (EDA) Disaster Recovery Grant program can apply for technical assistance from NCGrowth at the Kenan Institute for Private Enterprise, which will provide Return on Investment (ROI) and Impact Analysis Assessments for a limited number of eligible applicants free of charge. These analyses are designed to strengthen applications from western North Carolina for the competitive nationwide EDA process.
Projects will be selected for this assistance at three intervals:
Relief is available for child care centers, family child care homes, before- and after- school programs (0-5 or 0-12), Head Starts, and NC Pre-K programs recovering from the impacts of Hurricane Helene. The center or program can apply now for grant funding to help reopen the center or to help keep it open. Grant funding of $10 million was appropriated to help child care centers in impacted areas across western North Carolina. Learn more about the funds available and how to apply.
Small- and medium-sized businesses located in economically distressed communities can access a wide array of technical assistance from NCGrowth, including financial analysis, manufacturing process improvement, natural resource management planning. Workshops, virtual training sessions, and other types of content are available to support entrepreneurs.