As western North Carolina grapples with the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, Governor Josh Stein is pressing Congress for increased financial support to repair critical infrastructure. On Thursday, Stein emphasized the urgent need for more funds to restore the region’s water systems, standing before the former Pactiv Evergreen paper mill site in Canton.
Highlighting recent developments, Stein noted the allocation of $3.5 million in federal funds to Canton for the construction of a new wastewater treatment plant. This funding, initially announced in April, forms part of the $861 million already provided by Washington to aid in the region’s water infrastructure recovery.
Despite these efforts, Stein insists that the financial assistance falls short of what’s necessary. “We need substantially more federal support,” he asserted. “The federal government has not appropriated any relief dollars for Western North Carolina since the Biden administration and the last Congress.”
The governor has requested an additional $540 million from Congress, targeting water infrastructure and environmental initiatives, as part of a broader $13.5 billion appeal for ongoing recovery endeavors.
Without these funds, Stein warned that local communities might struggle to address pressing needs such as sewer line renovations or relocating treatment facilities to less flood-prone areas. “I am urging the U.S. Congress and this administration to meet this moment and help western North Carolina get back on its feet,” Stein appealed. “We’re obviously grateful for every dollar that we’ve received from the federal government. It’s just, we need more.”
Felicia Sonmez
/
BPR News
Accompanying Stein at the event were Canton Mayor Zeb Smathers, North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality Secretary Reid Wilson, and Preston Jacobsen, executive director of the Haywood Waterways Association.
Mayor Smathers expressed optimism about the new wastewater treatment facility, stating, “Where you stand will be the home of our newest wastewater treatment plant. For the first time in our history, we will treat wastewater. We will control our own destiny.”
The need for a new plant arose after Pactiv Evergreen, which previously treated Canton’s wastewater without charge, sold the site to Spirtas Worldwide. Since the transaction, Canton has incurred monthly costs of $140,000 for treatment services.
Historically, the area’s existing treatment plant has been susceptible to flooding, including during Hurricane Helene. In March, Canton took steps to mitigate future flooding risks by acquiring a portion of the old mill site to construct the new plant on higher ground. This property also offers over 150,000 square feet of warehouse space, which Smathers hopes will attract new business ventures to the locality.
