The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) provides no-cost grant development and technical assistance to local governments, regional entities, and eligible nonprofit partners in the western North Carolina counties designated for FEMA Public Assistance following Hurricane Helene. The program helps communities identify and pursue federal, state (including DEQ-administered), and philanthropic funding opportunities through funding navigation, project structuring, and the development of competitive grant proposals and application materials.
Topics Related to Business or Nonprofit Organizations
Charitable organizations working to foster more prepared and resilient communities in western North Carolina in the wake of Hurricane Helene can apply for support through the WNC Prepared and Resilient Communities Grant Program. The deadline for submission is noon eastern time on Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2026. Applications will not be accepted after the deadline.
Eligible entities can participate in the NC Department of Technology's Broadband Satellite Resiliency Grant program, supporting the purchase of equipment that can deliver satellite internet service, as well as related installation materials. Equipment must be for the grantee's own use and not for distribution to other parties. No portion of funds granted under this program shall be used for internet service subscriptions. Learn more and apply.
NC Community Colleges and The University of North Carolina (UNC) System campuses that serve the counties affected by Tropical Storms Helene and Debby can apply for funding to build a child care center on campus or renovate existing campus buildings for child care centers. Third party organizations may provide child care in these facilities.
How to Apply
Volunteer organizations actively involved in ongoing repair and reconstruction projects from Hurricane Helene can apply for grant funding through the Volunteer Organization Recovery Fund Grant Round 3. An initial $35 million is available for this program, appropriated by the Appropriations Act of 2026 and administered by the NC Division of Emergency Management. Applications are due on October 16, 2026 no later than 5 p.m.
Eligible Categories of Work:
The Renew NC Commercial District Revitalization Program is for eligible local governments and nonprofit organizations to revitalize designated commercial districts damaged by Hurricane Helene. Encouraging economic opportunities, while supporting the recovery of commercial areas, is essential to ensuring that commercial tenants, customers, and jobs are restored.
The Disaster Mitigation Program reduces heightened wildfire risk in communities impacted by Hurricane Helene by providing wildfire risk reduction treatments at no cost to eligible private and public landowners in 39 federally declared disaster counties, designated as of Dec. 18, 2024, under FEMA Disaster 4827: North Carolina Tropical Storm Helene.
NCDEQ received grant funding from EPA to provide grants to local governments and nonprofit organizations in Western North Carolina to help communities shorten timeframes and/or fund remaining Hurricane Helene solid waste disaster debris clean-up and removal projects that are not covered by Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) or other funding sources.
Find a list of resources available to small business owners recovering from Hurricane Helene. Search the GROW NC Recovery Resource Hub to connect with more opportunities for support.
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.