ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Buncombe County workers affected by Tropical Storm Helene will soon have access to more temporary jobs and job training opportunities, thanks to a new round of federal funding announced Friday by Gov. Josh Stein.
The U.S. Department of Labor has released an additional $4 million to North Carolina to help residents in hard-hit western counties get back to work. The funds complete a $10 million Disaster Recovery Dislocated Worker Grant originally awarded in 2024 after Helene caused widespread flooding, landslides and economic disruption across the mountains.
“Hurricane Helene inflicted billions in economic losses on businesses large and small,” Stein said in a statement. “Thousands of people lost their jobs. 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’s a win-win.”
The new funding will be administered by the N.C. Department of Commerce’s Division of Workforce Solutions and distributed through five regional workforce development boards, including the Mountain Area Workforce Development Board, which serves Buncombe, Henderson, Madison and Transylvania counties.
The program provides temporary jobs in cleanup, recovery and humanitarian assistance, employing residents through local governments, nonprofits, or private contractors. So far, more than 275 people across western North Carolina have participated.
Commerce Secretary Lee Lilley said the grant is one of several tools being used to rebuild the mountain economy after Helene’s devastation.
“We are grateful for the strong collaboration by our team, employers, local workforce development boards and NCWorks Career Centers,” Lilley said.
In addition to temporary jobs, the grant also supports workforce training and job placement, such as tuition assistance for courses at local community colleges. Eligible residents include those who lost work due to the hurricane or meet other program criteria.
Residents interested in applying for Helene recovery jobs or training can contact their local NCWorks Career Center or visit ncworks.gov
for more information.