The proposed funding would follow $500 million already approved by lawmakers and would target what Stein called “the highest priority issues.”
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein announced his second Hurricane Helene budget proposal on Monday, requesting an additional $891 million from the General Assembly to address critical needs in western North Carolina.
“We need to commit to the people of Western North Carolina that the state is with them over the long haul,” Stein said during a news conference at Carolina Domes, a small tourism business still recovering from the storm.
The proposed funding would follow $500 million already approved by lawmakers in March and would target what Stein called “the highest priority issues, areas that we cannot afford to wait for an uncertain federal assistance.”
Stein Helene budget proposal breakdown
The largest portion — $260 million — would support regional economic recovery through small business assistance, workforce development and tourism promotion. Stein noted that while a partnership has awarded grants to 2,000 businesses, about 5,000 more were denied due to lack of funds.
“The need is still great,” Stein said.
With North Carolina projected to have the highest wildfire risk in the United States over the next year, the governor’s proposal includes $50 million for wildfire prevention and response.
“North Carolina is projected to have nearly eight times the amount of fuel on the ground than we had a decade ago,” Stein warned.
Secretary of Commerce Lee Lilly emphasized the urgent need to revitalize tourism in the region and announced plans to open a $1.4 billion federal grant program this summer to help with housing recovery and infrastructure.
“Our mission is to open this program to the people of Western North Carolina this summer, get hammer swinging, and get people home,” Lilly said. “That’s what urgency means to this administration.”
Since he took office in January, Stein has prioritized hurricane recovery. The governor has made several trips to western North Carolina to promote efforts to help businesses struggling with rebuilding. In March, state lawmakers approved a $524 million bipartisan aid package, but Stein emphasized that more funding is needed.
“The $891 million I’m requesting will tackle the highest priority issues. Areas that cannot afford to wait for uncertain federal assistance,” Stein said.
The proposal comes as many businesses continue to struggle with rebuilding months after the hurricane devastated the area. Carolina Domes, which hosted the governor’s announcement, was among thousands of businesses hit hard by the storm.
“It was 22 days, no electricity down here,” Zack Mayo, owner of Carolina Domes, said, explaining that the temporary closure created significant financial strain for his business. “No money’s coming in, you’re sitting there dwelling on savings, and of course, you’re plowing the money into repair everything.”
Mayo’s business received assistance through the governor’s first phase of relief funding, but acknowledged that much more help is needed throughout the region.
“It was a little help, you know, and like the governor was saying, it just needs to be a lot more for us, but for people around,” Mayo said. “There’s a lot of people who have lost a lot of stuff,” Mayo said.
The budget proposal directs funds toward multiple recovery priorities, including small business support, infrastructure repairs, school restoration, debris removal and assistance for damaged farmland. Stein emphasized that supporting small businesses is critical to the region’s recovery.
“It’ll move us faster on the path to recovery by standing with small businesses,” the governor said.
Carolina Domes was selected for the announcement as an example of a business that benefited from initial recovery grants. While thousands of local businesses have received assistance through early funding efforts, officials acknowledge thousands more still need support.
Carolina Domes co-owner Tessa Mayo explained how the business lost over 200 trees on its property and has struggled to attract visitors since the storm.
“Despite working around the clock for months, we’ve had a hard time attracting visitors because so many of the businesses around us are still working to recover,” Mayo said.
“We have to continue to invest in Western North Carolina so that it can come back stronger than ever and sooner the better,” Stein said.
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