N.C. Commerce Drives Housing Recovery and Economic Opportunity in Western North Carolina
RALEIGH, N.C.
In the two years since Hurricane Helene devastated western North Carolina, the North Carolina Department of Commerce has helped families, businesses, and communities with the support needed to rebuild stronger than ever. Commerce is administering $1.4 billion in federal recovery funds supporting housing, infrastructure, and community development, welcomed nearly $7.7 billion of tourism to the mountains, announced economic development projects bringing 4,105 new jobs to the region, and dispersed more than $96 million in disaster-related unemployment insurance benefits to people in need. These key milestones make up only a part of the state’s ongoing commitment to be with western North Carolina through the long haul of recovery.
“Western North Carolina’s recovery has come along in a meaningful way over the past two years. Our whole-of-government approach has been driven with urgency and focus, but there is still work to be done,” said Governor Josh Stein. “Together, we must continue to support housing, critical infrastructure, and the small businesses that are vital for western North Carolinians.”
The progress of the past two years also reflects the resilience of western North Carolina’s people and the strength of the partnerships driving the region’s recovery.
“Western North Carolina has shown remarkable grit since Helene,” said N.C. Commerce Secretary Lee Lilley. “Commerce is in this recovery for the long haul, partnering with local leaders, businesses, and families to rebuild stronger, expand opportunity, and help communities across the region emerge ready for the future.”
WNC PROGRESS AT A GLANCE
Housing Recovery
Governor Stein’s Executive Order No. 3 established the Division of Community Revitalization to rebuild homes destroyed or damaged by Hurricane Helene. Through the Renew NC Single-Family Housing Program, 159 homes have been completed, providing families with a new beginning. An additional 167 homes are under construction, with 637 homes in pre-construction. Renew NC is the state’s program for federal Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funds and is one of the fastest launches of the program in more than a decade nationwide.
Safe housing efforts continue with the launch of new programs to support multi-family and workforce housing. Under Renew NC’s Multi-Family Housing Program, 828 affordable rental units will be built across those communities impacted by Helene, and properties damaged in the storm are eligible for funding to replace, repair, or construct new rental housing. The Workforce Housing for Ownership (WHFO) Program will fund development of workforce housing units, expanding access to homeownership across the region.
Workforce Recovery
Workforce recovery continues to be a key focus. The Helene Disaster Recovery Dislocated Worker Grant Program has provided temporary jobs and training to more than 425 individuals in the region, and more than 50 percent of program participants have since secured permanent employment. The U.S. Department of Labor recently extended the time period for this grant through Oct. 10, 2027. Meanwhile, NCWorks Career Centers and the NCWorks mobile unit have hosted nearly 350 hiring events, connecting thousands of residents to new employment opportunities.
The Division of Workforce Solutions launched a “Hurricane Helene Business Edge Fund” to provide resources to local workforce development boards in western North Carolina for services that would help minimize layoffs and support small business recovery. Three local workforce boards received the funding and awarded grants to 24 Helene-impacted employers, totaling just more than $224,600 to help these businesses retain a total of 357 employees. Additionally, more than 36,000 disaster-related unemployment claims were processed to assist people who lost their jobs due to the storm, with more than $96 million in benefits delivered—surpassing totals from previous hurricanes.
Business Recovery
Commerce announced economic development projects committing 4,105 new jobs and more than $3.2 billion of investments in Helene-impacted counties over the past two years. Commerce and the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina (EDPNC) identified five new industrial development sites for the North Carolina “Select Sites” program to support a strong manufacturing base and good jobs across western North Carolina.
Local governments and small businesses have received support through the Small Business Infrastructure Grant Program (SmBiz) from the Rural Economic Development Division. The SmBiz Program provides financial assistance for community recovery and resilience by repairing critical infrastructure that impacts small business operations. Since launching in June 2025, 96 small businesses have benefited from $36 million in grants that have been deployed across western North Carolina to rebuild vital infrastructure and create resiliency for local economies.
Renew NC has also launched separate programs for impacted communities and commercial areas. The Community Infrastructure Program provides funding to make infrastructure more resilient to current and future natural hazards, while the Commercial District Revitalization Program helps local governments and nonprofits revitalize business centers damaged by Helene, restoring jobs, customers, and businesses so that residents can continue to access the products and services they need.
The One North Carolina Small Business Program through the Office of Science, Technology & Innovation, awarded $313,888 to six small businesses in the counties impacted by Helene, with three of those companies receiving an additional $25,000 through the Matching Funds Program. This additional funding helps these small businesses advance their technologies and increase cash flow, and the funding supports economic growth in the western region of the state after Helene caused economic setbacks.
The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) program, administered by Commerce’s Rural Economic Development Division, has continued to provide hands-on assistance to western North Carolina communities. ARC is a federal-state economic development partnership that includes 31 counties in western North Carolina and has worked directly with local governments and organizations to assess recovery needs, identify investment opportunities, leverage community assets, and develop long-term economic resilience. ARC awarded $3.5 million to Mountain BizWorks’ WNC Strong: Helene Business Recovery Fund which provides working capital to businesses affected by the storm.
With the help of VisitNC’s “Rediscover the Unforgettable” campaign, tourism in western North Carolina saw nearly $7.7 billion in visitor spending last year. In 2025, visitor spending increased overall in North Carolina's three mountain regions, including the counties most impacted by Helene, and employment topped 46,500. The growth in visitor spending shows the lasting appeal of North Carolina's natural wonders, culture, and unforgettable experiences in the aftermath of the hurricane.
Last week, Asheville hosted the PGA Biltmore Championship for the first time since 1942, bringing thousands of visitors and an estimated $10 million in economic impact as western North Carolina continues to welcome tourists back to the area. The region saw a resurgence of motorsports driving thousands of fans to the birthplace of NASCAR with the Window World 450 NASCAR Cup Series at North Wilkesboro Speedway in July. Both events were supported by the Major Events, Games, and Attractions (MEGA) Fund.
The North Carolina Department of Commerce will continue working with the Governor’s Recovery Office for Western North Carolina, state agencies, local governments, nonprofits, businesses, and residents to help communities reopen, rebuild, and welcome residents and visitors back to the region. This work is also part of the state’s broader commitment to strengthening western North Carolina’s economic future through the First in Opportunity Strategic Economic Development Plan, which calls for continued investment in infrastructure, innovation, community well-being, and a future-ready workforce. Across its divisions, Commerce remains engaged on the ground, connecting communities with information and resources while investing in the ongoing work of building stronger communities where families and businesses can thrive for years to come.
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