Today Governor Stein and Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) Secretary Reid Wilson visited Old Fort to learn how new funding is strengthening the town’s long-term resilience. Last week, Governor Stein announced $270 million in grants that will support 58 separate water systems in 26 western North Carolina counties that were affected by Hurricane Helene. These funds will help local governments and water authorities enhance the resilience of their water and sewer systems. The town of Old Fort will receive $10 million for a drinking water system resiliency project and $5 million for a sewer system resiliency project.
North Carolina is the first Helene-affected state to distribute its share of its federal allocations from the EPA’s Drinking Water and Clean Water Revolving Loan Fund disaster programs, just as it did with its CDBG-DR funded housing funds. The Stein administration is focused on urgency and transparency in its work to aid western North Carolina’s recovery.
“Just like so many towns across western North Carolina, Old Fort suffered the deluge of Hurricane Helene,” said Governor Josh Stein. “These investments will help the town shore up its drinking water and sewer systems so families can count on safe and reliable services, even when storms hit.”…