Local governments and federally recognized tribes in western North Carolina may be eligible for capital grants to repair, renovate or replace infrastructure damaged by Hurricane Helene. The Helene Local Government Capital Grant program was created in SL 2025-26 and amended by SL 2025-97. 

Who is Eligible to Apply?

Local government units or federal recognized tribes located on trust lands with projects that are ineligible or denied FEMA Public Assistance (FEMA PA) funding may apply for a grant. See G.S. 159G-20 for a definition of a unit of local government for the purposes of this grant. 

The grant-eligible capital projects must be projects that are ineligible for FEMA Public Assistance reimbursement. 

The applying local government or federally recognized tribe must fall within one of the FEMA Designated Areas for Hurricane Helene.

Who is not Eligible to Apply?

Although some non-profit organizations and other entities were eligible to apply for FEMA – PA funding following Hurricane Helene, these organizations are not eligible for the Local Government Capital Grants. 

How are Grant Applications Evaluated?

OSBM will prioritize grants to an eligible recipient based on the following criteria set in statute:

OSBM is required to consult with North Carolina Emergency Management to confirm projects would be ineligible for FEMA PA reimbursement. 

Award amounts are based on statutory caps per recipient and county. Because of this, grant applications are evaluated and grants awarded after the deadline closes, not on a rolling basis. The deadline to apply was November 21. 

Existing Applicants

  1. Review our guidance on grant award amounts
  2. Review the Pre-Application Checklist
  3. Check out our Frequently Asked Questions
  4. We are here to help! Contact us at HeleneCapitalGrants@osbm.nc.gov.

Applications were due by midnight on November 21.

Additional Information

Tab/Accordion Items

The deadline to apply was November 21. We do not have any webinars scheduled at this time.

You may view this recording of a past webinar. See the slides from the webinar.

There is just under $50 million in grants available. Grant applicants must submit estimated project cost totals and requested amounts when applying.

OSBM will award grants based on the following maximum grant amounts set in statute:

  1. Twenty percent (20%) to one county, including grants to units of local government within that county.  ($9,950,000)
  2. Five percent (5%) per eligible recipient. ($2,487,500)
  3. Five percent (5%) per zip code if that zip code only qualifies for FEMA Public Assistance Categories A through B. ($2,487,500)

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