Easley, Michael. Press Release, 2005-06-15, Gov. Easley Announces $4.6 Million In Grants For Storm Damaged Homes; Friday Is Application Deadline For Operation Brighter Day Individual Assistance Programs

Michael F. Easley Governor State of North Carolina Office of the Governor For Release: Date: IMMEDIATE June 15, 2005 Contact: Jill Warren Lucas Phone: 919/733-5612 GOV. EASLEY ANNOUNCES $4.6 MILLION IN GRANTS FOR STORM DAMAGED HOMES Friday is Application Deadline for Operation Brighter Day Individual Assistance Programs RALEIGH - Gov. Mike Easley today announced that eight North Carolina communities will receive $4.6 million in federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds to help 56 families displaced by the devastation of last fall’s hurricanes and storms move into new or rehabilitated homes. The effort is part of the Operation Brighter Day hurricane assistance program. “This money will help these people rebuild their homes and their lives,” Easley said. “I will continue to aggressively seek resources at all levels of government to help people, businesses and communities as they continue to recover from the devastation of last year’s storms.” The CDBG funds will be used to rehabilitate or buy hurricane-damaged homes and relocate their owners. Each of the following communities will receive $600,000 for this purpose: Avery County, Beaufort County, Town of Belhaven, Carteret County, Hyde County, Mitchell County and the Town ofNewland. In addition, Yancey County will receive $400,000 to rehabilitate damaged homes or acquire homes that sit in flood plains. CDBG funds come from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and are administered by the N.C. Department of Commerce. All North Carolina small cities are eligible to apply for funds, except for 23 cities and two urban counties that receive funds directly from HUD. Friday is the application deadline for other individual assistance programs available through Operation Brighter Day. Hurricane victims can submit one application to cover damage to primary housing, private access driveways and bridges, and agricultural losses at Recovery Application Centers (RACs), which are located in N.C. Cooperative Extension Service centers in each of the 50 disaster-declared counties. Applications also may be filed by calling the Governor’s Hurricane Recovery Bilingual Hotline toll free at 1-888-835-9966 (TTY, 1-877-452-25 14) between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. ### Note to media: For more information about the state’s CDBG program, visit http://www.ncdca.org/cdbtz. For a county-by-county breakdown of the number and type of individual assistance applications filed, visit Governor's Press Office State Capitol, Raleigh, NC 27603-8001 (919) 733-5612 - Toll Free 1-800-662-7005 FAX (919) 733-5166