Senator Thom Tillis has expressed approval for the U.S. Economic Development Administration’s (EDA) announcement regarding the Fiscal Year 2025 Disaster Supplemental Notice of Funding Opportunity. This initiative will provide approximately $1.45 billion in federal funding to support communities affected by disasters, including those in Western North Carolina impacted by Hurricane Helene.
“This critical EDA funding will help ensure that communities in Western North Carolina still reeling from the impacts of Helene have the resources they need to recover and rebuild stronger than before,” said Senator Tillis. “I remain fully committed to making sure North Carolina receives its fair share of this funding and that Western North Carolina is made whole again.”
The announcement follows a bipartisan effort led by Senator Tillis and other members of North Carolina’s congressional delegation, urging the Trump Administration to expedite the issuance of a Notice of Funding Opportunity.
Senator Tillis has been advocating for federal assistance since Hurricane Helene made landfall. On October 1, 2024, he led a bipartisan letter to Senate Appropriations Chair Patty Murray and Vice Chair Susan Collins concerning the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene and called for an appropriations package to aid affected Americans.
Further actions included leading a group of senators on October 16, 2024, urging the White House to submit a government funding request to Congress for clean-up and recovery costs related to Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Additionally, on October 23, 2024, The Hill published an op-ed by Senator Tillis encouraging Congress to proactively address long-term disaster recovery.
On November 14, 2024, Senator Tillis attempted but was blocked from passing legislation aimed at replenishing the SBA Disaster Loan Program through unanimous consent on the Senate floor. Subsequently, he led a bipartisan letter requesting that the Office of Management and Budget send a supplemental appropriation request to Congress.
Efforts continued with introducing several legislative measures such as the RELIEF Act for small businesses impacted by Hurricane Helene and calling on Congress during his testimony on November 20, 2024, to swiftly pass relief measures.
In December 2024, Senator Tillis joined discussions with state leaders about providing immediate assistance following Hurricane Helene’s impact. He also committed to filibustering any resolution lacking disaster aid for Western North Carolina.
By January 7, 2025, he announced $1.65 billion in Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery funds aimed at rebuilding efforts. Later legislative initiatives included introducing acts focused on disaster mitigation tax parity and simplifying federal disaster recovery applications.
Throughout these efforts, Senator Tillis has engaged with local leaders across various towns in Western North Carolina as part of his commitment to supporting recovery initiatives following Hurricane Helene’s devastation.
