RALEIGH, N.C. (828newsNOW) — The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has approved North Carolina’s Action Plan for a $1.4 billion Community Development Block Grant for Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) to help rebuild Western North Carolina following Tropical Storm Helene, Gov. Josh Stein announced Thursday.

North Carolina submitted the Helene Action Plan in record time compared to other states’ responses to major hurricanes over the past decade, the governor’s office said.

“This is great news for Western North Carolina,” Stein said in a news release. “I thank the Trump administration for moving quickly to approve this plan so we can get busy rebuilding people’s homes.”

The approval was the final step before the state can access the federal funds, originally announced in January. Once HUD certifies North Carolina’s financial controls, the state will sign the grant agreement and begin distributing funds, with a focus on housing and economic recovery.

“We’ve learned so much from the many people and organizations that have taken time to offer their suggestions, and I’m grateful for everyone’s participation so far,” Stephanie McGarrah, deputy secretary of the N.C. Department of Commerce, said in the release. “We know the road to full recovery will be a long journey, but the Department of Commerce and my team are ready to get to work.”

CDBG-DR grants support long-term recovery rather than immediate shelter needs and are considered a “last resort” funding source after private insurance and other aid have been exhausted. The grants address unmet needs in three core areas: housing, infrastructure and economic revitalization.

Most of the funds from the Helene Action Plan will be directed toward housing recovery for low- and moderate-income residents, with the remainder supporting infrastructure and economic development projects.

The approved Action Plan is available here.