Helene Recovery Fund for PARTF

North Carolina counties and incorporated municipalities in the affected areas are eligible for Helene Recovery grants. Public authorities, as defined by N.C. General Statute 159-7, are also eligible if they are authorized to acquire land or develop recreational facilities for the general public.

Per SL 2025-26, House Bill 1012, eligible counties are listed below and include counties designated before, on, or after the effective date of this act under a major disaster declaration by the President of the United States under the Stafford Act (P.L. 93-288) as a result of Hurricane Helene.

Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Cabarrus, Caldwell, Catawba, Cherokee, Clay, Cleveland, Forsyth, Gaston, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Iredell, Jackson, Lee, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mecklenburg, Mitchell, Nash, Polk, Rowan, Rutherford, Stanly, Surry, Swain, Transylvania, Union, Watauga, Wilkes, Yadkin, and Yancey.
 

Local governments in the affected areas can apply to acquire land for parks and build recreational facilities for use by the public. A project must be located on a single site.

An applicant must match the grant dollar-for-dollar, 50 percent of the total cost of the project, and may contribute more than 50 percent. The appraised value of land to be donated to the applicant can be used as part of the match. The value of in-kind services, such as volunteer work, cannot be used as part of the match.

Applicants must have control of the project site for development projects. An applicant must own or have at least a 25-year signed lease or easement for the property where a PARTF facility will be located.
 

Property acquired with PARTF must be dedicated forever for public recreational use. Facilities built or renovated with a PARTF grant must be available for public recreational use for at least 25 years.

The N.C. Administrative Rules for the PARTF local grant program describe the requirements of the grant program, including who can apply and how grant recipients are selected.

There is no maximum grant request for this application. 

An applicant must match the grant dollar-for-dollar, 50% of the total cost of the project and may contribute more than 50 percent. The appraised value of land to be donated to the applicant can be used as part of the match. The value of in-kind services, such as volunteer work, cannot be used as part of the match.

A local government can use the appraised value of donate land as part of the 50% match for the grant. The donor of the land must be a private organization or individual. The applicant must provide a 5-year history of conveyance for the property. Land that is transferred to the applicant due to a statute or rule is not considered a donation. Do not transfer ownership to the local government until you have discussed this with your RRS Consultant. 

You will be submitting specific cost estimates as part of the PARTF grant application. Get estimates from contractors, architects, or planners who develop parks and recreational facilities. Consider the impact of inflation by assuming that the project may be completed over a 3-year period after the grantee signs a contract with the state. 

In the cost estimates, an applicant will use the appraised value of the land that it proposes to buy or that will be donated.