The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is requesting proposals for its Helene Recovery Recycling Infrastructure Grant Program.
Donor Name: North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ)
State: North Carolina
County: Selected Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 01/30/2026
Size of the Grant: More than $1 million
Grant Duration: 3 Years
Details:
The purpose of this grant program is to assist Hurricane Helene-impacted local governments with then implementation, expansion, recovery, and improvement of waste reduction programs in western North Carolina. The Division of Environmental Assistance and Customer Service (DEACS) administers the Helene Recovery Recycling Infrastructure (HRRI) grant program through funding from the United States
Funding Information
Applicants may request any amount of grant funding up to a maximum of $5,000,000 per project. The total available funding for the HRRI grant program is $25,000,000, and DEACS will accept proposals in phases until funding is depleted, or until March 1, 2029.
Grant Period
The contract period may be one, two, or three years.
Eligible Projects
DEACS seeks viable, well-planned proposals from North Carolina local governments impacted by Hurricane Helene for projects that will expand, rebuild, or improve waste reduction, composting, and recycling programs. Grant money may be used to build infrastructure and facilities, purchase equipment, and conduct related feasibility studies or engineering designs to divert materials from the waste stream.
Eligible Expenses
Approved uses of HRRI grant funds include infrastructure improvements, construction of new facilities to handle recyclable materials, reconstruction of recycling facilities damaged by Hurricane Helene, site development costs, related feasibility studies or engineering designs, equipment or vehicle purchases, equipment installation costs, and educational materials such as signs, mailers, handouts, or brochures.
Eligibility Criteria
Local governments, defined as counties, municipalities, councils of governments and solid waste authorities, with a Tropical Storm Helene FEMA disaster declaration (D-4827) are eligible to apply for funding from the HRRI grant program. These counties include:
- Alexander County, Gaston County, Nash County, Alleghany County, Graham County, Polk County, Ashe County, Haywood County, Rowan County, Avery County, Henderson County, Rutherford County, Buncombe County, Iredell County, Stanly County, Burke County, Jackson County, Surry County, Cabarrus County, Lee County, Swain County, Caldwell County, Lincoln County, Transylvania County, Catawba County, Macon County, Union County, Cherokee County, Madison County, Watauga County, Clay County, McDowell County, Wilkes County, Cleveland County, Mecklenburg County, Yadkin County, Forsyth County, Mitchell County, Yancey County.
For more information, visit DEQ.
