News 13 is taking a closer look at some of the line items that include tens of millions of dollars for specific allocations.
House Bill 149 with $273 million was passed on Oct. 10:
- $250 million allocated to the Division of Emergency Management, which serves as the oversight agency for Helene. The funding is a required formula for match funds so the state can maintain eligibility for federal FEMA funds that ultimately result in aid checks for victims’ housing, repairs and other storm-related costs.
- $16 million for cafeteria employees to pay their salaries that were not federally funded due to school closures.
- $2 million for grants for the North Carolina League of Municipalities and other city and county coalition organizations that can then disburse funds to county and city offices for storm-related costs.
- $5 million to the State Board of Elections.
“That money has been disbursed to the relevant departments,” said Kristin Walker, state budget director.
- $50 million for public school repairs.
- $25 million for mental health crisis support funds allocated to Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).
- $10 million for child care centers via DHHS.
- $9 million for utility assistance via DHHS.
- $1 million rental assistance via DHHS and Department of Social Services (DSS).
- $50 million to small business recovery loans.
- $5 million to Visit NC tourism promotion for Western North Carolina.
Mountain Biz Works, an Asheville-based small business nonprofit, is administering the allocation of $50 million for small business loans. The fund is called WNC Strong: Helene Business Recovery Fund.
Christine Laucher, strategic partnership manager, said the fund has already disbursed $15 million in loans with a $100,000 cap for each business. She said the average loan is about $53,000.
“Some folks had their entire businesses washed away – literally every brick,” said Laucher. “We’ve already seen almost 900 applications already.”
Laucher said the nonprofit has already received 890 loan applications and more get submitted each day.
“The General Assembly has taken a good first step,” said Kristin Walker, state budget director. “I believe additional steps will be needed from both the state and federal government.”
It is the sentiment echoed by Gov. Roy Cooper each time he has spoken about the legislature’s aid packages so far.