Units of Local Government
Units of local government and federally recognized tribes located on trust lands should reference the information below to determine eligibility for the Helene Local Government Capital Grant Program.
If you are a volunteer fire department, visit our Volunteer Fire Department resource page.
Who is Eligible to Apply?
Local government units or federally recognized tribes located on trust lands with projects that are not eligible for 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.
If you completed an application in the first round and would like to reapply for the same project, you must submit a new application for the 2026 funding cycle.
The applying local government or federally recognized tribe must fall within one of the FEMA Designated Areas for Hurricane Helene.
What is an Eligible Project?
These grants must be used for capital projects to repair, renovate, or replace infrastructure damaged by Hurricane Helene. These capital projects must be projects that are not eligible for FEMA Public Assistance reimbursement.
If you have specific project questions, please reach out to HeleneCapitalGrants@osbm.nc.gov.
How are Grant Applications Evaluated?
OSBM will prioritize grants to an eligible recipient based on the following criteria set in statute:
- An eligible recipient with a population of 250,000 or fewer based on the 2023 Certified County Population Estimates from the State Demographer
- An unincorporated area in the affected area that suffered catastrophic damage, as defined in S.L. 2025‑97. If a county applies on behalf of an unincorporated area, then those funds shall only be spent in that unincorporated area and not elsewhere within that county.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
You may still apply if you have received prior funding from this program. Reference our guidance on grant award amounts to understand available funding.
OSBM will award grants based on the following maximum grant amounts set in statute:
- Twenty percent (20%) to one county, including grants to units of local government within that county but not including volunteer fire departments. ($22,950,000)
- Five percent (5%) per eligible recipient. ($5,737,500)
- Five percent (5%) per zip code if that zip code only qualifies for FEMA Public Assistance Categories A through B. ($5,737,500)
If you have previously received an award from the program, subtract any prior awards from the recipient cap ($5,737,500) to determine your maximum award amount. For example, if you received $1,000,000 in the first round of funding, the maximum possible award you can receive this round is $4,737,500. The same logic applies for county caps.
Reference our application checklist for required information and documents.