Volunteer Fire Departments
Volunteer fire departments should reference the information below to determine eligibility for the Helene Local Government Capital Grant Program.
If you are a unit of local government or federally recognized tribe, visit our Units of Local Government resource page.
Who is Eligible to Apply?
A volunteer fire department that meets all of the following criteria is eligible to apply for a grant under the program:
- Located in a FEMA Designated Area for Hurricane Helene
- Suffered damage from Hurricane Helene to site preparation, a fire station, or land purchase for relocation.
- Is not a municipal fire department or owned by a unit of local government or political subdivision of the State.
- Has previously been certified by the Office of the State Fire Marshal.
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.
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. Because of this, grant applications are evaluated and grants awarded after the deadline closes, not on a rolling basis.
OSBM will award grants based on the following maximum grant amounts set in statute:
- 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)
Volunteer fire departments are not subject to county caps or previous award calculations required for units of local government.
Reference our application checklist for required information and documents.