NORTH CAROLINA — Some North Carolina Republican lawmakers are calling for more transparency when it comes to the team created to oversee the distribution of millions of Helene funds.
The Governor’s Recovery Office for Western North Carolina is an entity set up by Governor Josh Stein.
However, it is now facing scrutiny due to delays in distributing recovery funds, according to reports from WLOS.
Grow NC Director Matt Calabria said the officers coordinate rather than control the funds.
“With each one of those, about a dozen line items we worked, as soon as the legislation was passed to issue request for proposals, to make sure whether it be farmers or others had an opportunity to apply to utilize those funds. That’s where those funds are. It’s part of a natural process for distributing those funds. We have to make sure whether it be small governments or others have an opportunity to apply for those funds,” Calabria said.
State Rep. Mark Pless of North Carolina’s 118th District expressed his disappointment with some of the work.
“They have been up into the mountains, they have spoken with many communities, and they have said, ‘This is who’s going to redo this. We are going to redo this the correct way.’ But they have still not gotten any of the money out that we gave them in March,” Pless said.
Grow NC said 80% of the money has been approved and distributed.
They said they are working to get the rest of the money out as quickly as possible.
Editor’s note: A previous version of this story misattributed Rep. Pless’ quote to Matt Calabria. This article has been updated to correct that quote; we apologize for the error.
VIDEO: Stein announces 2nd Helene budget proposal
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