North Carolina Railroad Company launches $10M recovery program for communities devastated by Hurricane Helene

The North Carolina Railroad Company (NCRR) announced Tuesday that it was launching a disaster recovery relief grant program for communities in that state that had been devastated by Hurricane Helene.

The Back-on-Track Disaster Recovery Program will provide $10 million for financial assistance based on a needs assessment. The money will go to FEMA-designated disaster areas with Class II and Class III short-line, local rail-served industries in need of track infrastructure repair funding, and local Economic Development Organizations (EDOs) in need of operations support. Funding will be allocated for infrastructure repair and wage support for Class II and Class III rail lines, industry support in affected areas for site recovery and operations assistance, and relief to non-profit EDOs in affected regions.

“Today, relief efforts are paramount. Tomorrow, we will be there to help Western North Carolina rebuild,” said Carl Warren, NCRR President & CEO. “We believe supporting commerce and fixing critical infrastructure are the quickest ways to help communities recover and develop after a disaster. This program allows us to help our neighbors rebuild and serves as a fund to support North Carolina communities facing similar challenges in the future. We’re here to help for the long haul.”

Officials said the new program is part of the company’s commitment to elevating local economies across the state, and is an investment into the long-term success of communities impacted by natural disasters.

Grant applications are available on the NCRR website and are due Nov. 15, 2024, officials said.

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