Residents of Western North Carolina will soon see additional support as more recovery funds are set to arrive. This financial aid is aimed at those affected by Hurricane Helene, providing crucial assistance to those in need.
On Friday, Governor Josh Stein revealed that the U.S. Department of Labor has disbursed the remaining $4 million of a $10 million federal grant. This money is intended to assist local residents in finding employment opportunities.
The funds, allocated through the Dislocated Worker Grant Program, were previously stalled due to a federal government shutdown.
In a statement, Stein emphasized, “This federal grant will enable folks in western North Carolina who are out of work to get a job helping their neighbors and businesses recover and rebuild. It is a win-win. We have made great progress in western North Carolina, but the work is far from over.”
The grant facilitates temporary employment for individuals engaged in disaster recovery or humanitarian work. Participants can find roles with nonprofits, state or local government bodies, and private enterprises. According to Stein’s office, over 275 residents have taken part in this initiative so far. The state Department of Commerce’s Division of Workforce Solutions is in charge of managing these funds.
Those interested in available job positions can visit the NC Works website here. Additionally, job seekers can reach out to one of the five local workplace development boards:
- Foothills WDB (Cleveland, McDowell, Polk, and Rutherford counties)
- High Country WDB (Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Mitchell, Watauga, Wilkes, and Yancey counties)
- Mountain Area WDB (Buncombe, Henderson, Madison, and Transylvania counties)
- Southwestern WDB (Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Jackson, Macon, and Swain counties)
- Western Piedmont WDB (Alexander, Burke, Caldwell, and Catawba counties)
To qualify, applicants must have been either temporarily or permanently laid off due to the storm or meet additional eligibility requirements.
