North Wake News

The Governor’s Recovery Office for Western North Carolina (GROW NC) has announced the launch of a public dashboard to provide updates on recovery efforts following Hurricane Helene. The website, WNCRecovery.nc.gov, offers information on rebuilding housing, restoring infrastructure, and revitalizing the economy.

Governor Josh Stein emphasized his commitment to transparency and accountability in the recovery process. "My commitment to the people of North Carolina is this: I will bring urgency, focus, transparency, and accountability to everything my administration does as we work to rebuild," he stated. He noted that the new resource would provide regular updates and resources for residents in western North Carolina.

Since January, GROW NC has collaborated with various partners across state agencies to expedite recovery efforts. Significant progress includes providing temporary housing for 5,720 households and removing over 4.7 million cubic yards of debris from roadways. Additionally, 84% of impacted roads have been reopened, including Interstate 40.

The WNC Small Business Initiative has also supported economic recovery by funding 989 loans for affected small business owners. More grants are expected soon.

Matt Calabria, Director of GROW NC, acknowledged the ongoing challenges but reiterated their commitment to a robust recovery. “There is still so much work to do to help western North Carolina recover,” he said.

Governor Stein continues to seek additional resources from both state and federal governments. In February, he requested $19 billion in federal funds for home rebuilding and infrastructure restoration while working with the legislature for $1.07 billion in state funding.