New funding announced in VA to speed up Helene recover efforts

Governor Abigail Spanberger has announced more than 52 million dollars in new funding to accelerate Hurricane Helene recovery efforts in Southwest and Western Virginia. The aid arrives through “Good Neighbor Agreements” signed with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service. This unlocks a ten-year stream of federal funding targeting recovery for state, private, and public forest lands devastated by the storm. Officials say the funds will immediately go toward repairing critical infrastructure, managing invasive species, and protecting gateway communities most impacted by the hurricane.