Feds Approve $34.2 Million in Recovery Grants for WNC; Funding Paid Out as Projects Built

WNC -- July 28, 2026: The U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) has formally approved $34.2 million in federal disaster recovery grants across Western North Carolina to support long-term economic rebuild efforts following Hurricane Helene.While headlines celebrating the announcement give the impression that cash is already arriving, local officials have not received lump-sum checks. Under federal policy, the approved (not yet released) $34.2 million remains in the U.S. Treasury, set as