Stein to announce second Helene budget proposal on Monday

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein will announce his second Hurricane Helene budget proposal Monday. 

Stein will be in western North Carolina to visit businesses impacted by the storm amid ongoing recovery efforts. Stein’s office says the governor will also visit businesses that received previous recovery grants to check in on their progress. 

The announcement is scheduled for 11 a.m. It will be streamed live on the free WCNC+ app. 

Since he took office in January, Stein has prioritized hurricane recovery. The governor has made several trips to western North Carolina to promote efforts to help businesses struggling with rebuilding. In March, state lawmakers approved a $524 million bipartisan aid package, but Stein emphasized that more funding is needed. 

“That bill is nowhere near enough, but it is enough to get started,” Stein said in April, saying his second Helene proposal would focus on housing needs, small business support and wildfire prevention.