| The North Carolina Community Foundation has awarded $3.8 million in grants from its Disaster Relief Fund to support long-term Hurricane Helene recovery in western North Carolina, with a focus on legal services and small business support.Grants totaling $2.4 million will ensure legal services are available over the next three years to residents who have low incomes across the region. Pisgah Legal Services will receive $1.4 million and Legal Aid of North Carolina will receive $1 million. The funds will be used to provide legal support to help homeowners access funding to repair or rebuild homes, help renters avoid eviction or lease termination, support victims of fraud, and assist people with other legal needs related to the storm.
“This generous, multi‐year grant from NCCF represents vital assistance for families in western North Carolina still recovering from Helene,” said Jackie Kiger, Executive Director of Pisgah Legal Services. “With these funds, we will stand by our neighbors as they navigate housing crises, insurance denials, FEMA appeals, and other legal hurdles that too often delay recovery.”
“This grant allows Legal Aid NC’s dedicated disaster relief attorneys and staff to continue helping western NC families navigate the long road of rebuilding,” said Ashley Campbell, CEO of Legal Aid of North Carolina. “Almost one year after Helene, we participated in a community event where we received 347 requests for assistance in a single day — a reminder that while disasters strike suddenly, recovery takes years. With this support, Legal Aid NC will be there for the long haul.”
A $1.4 million grant to Mountain BizWorks will support the organization in providing technical assistance and grants for small businesses as they work to reopen and retool as part of the recovery. Matt Raker, Executive Director of Mountain BizWorks, said the funding will support more than 300 small businesses and retain as many as 750 jobs in communities hardest hit by Helene.
“Small businesses across western North Carolina have shown incredible resilience over the past twelve months,” Raker said. “With funding from the NCCF Disaster Relief Fund, small business owners across the region will have additional access to funding, small business classes and coaching to rebuild stronger. Partnerships like this one bolster the long-term economic success of western North Carolina.”
The NCCF Disaster Relief Fund is supporting long-term recovery from Hurricane Helene in western North Carolina and building community preparedness for future disasters. Contributions to the fund total more than $30.5 million, and almost $12 million has now been awarded to support Hurricane Helene recovery. Additional grantmaking will occur over the coming months and years.
“We know support is still very much needed and these grants are a powerful step toward recovery for western North Carolina,” said Jennifer Tolle Whiteside, President and CEO of the North Carolina Community Foundation. “By investing in legal services and small businesses, we’re helping people and communities rebuild with resilience.”
In mid-October, NCCF will open a grant program to support long-term recovery needs in the communities hit hardest by Hurricane Helene. Approximately $5 million will be available to charitable organizations during this round of grantmaking. Program details, including eligibility, application information and deadlines, will be available on the NCCF website prior to the program’s opening. |
