Governor Josh Stein marked his 100th day in office with a continued focus on hurricane recovery, including his new project with Eric Church.

Gov. Josh Stein and country music star Eric Church broke ground Saturday on an affordable housing project in western North Carolina, highlighting ongoing recovery efforts in a region devastated by Hurricane Helene.

The groundbreaking ceremony in Newland marked a significant milestone in rebuilding efforts for the area, where many residents remain displaced following the hurricane’s destruction last year.

“We’ve spent the first 100 days fighting for the people of western North Carolina, and we will not stop now,” Stein said at the event, which coincided with his 100th day in office. “I am grateful for all the progress we have made to help western North Carolina rebuild and for our partners who are working to support their communities each and every day.”

Ongoing recovery efforts gain momentum

The housing project, spearheaded by Church’s nonprofit Chief Cares, aims to provide much-needed homes in a region where many families lost everything during the hurricane. Church, a North Carolina native, has redirected all of his charitable organization’s efforts toward hurricane relief.

“These are our family members, friends, and neighbors,” Church stated on his organization’s website. “Anyone who knows anything about me knows what North Carolina, and specifically this area in the mountains, means to me personally, as well as creatively.”

The groundbreaking comes after the state legislature passed $524 million in disaster relief funding. Stein highlighted the recent allocation of $120 million for home repairs in the Disaster Recovery Act of 2025 and urged lawmakers to include additional support for home repair, small business grants, fire prevention, and local government in future funding packages.

State secures federal support for long-term recovery

Earlier in the day, Stein addressed the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners, providing updates on recovery milestones while acknowledging the substantial work that remains.

The governor touted the state’s submission of an action plan for a $1.4 billion grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, which his office described as the fastest action plan submission by a state for a major hurricane in more than a decade.

Damage estimates from Hurricane Helene have reached nearly $60 billion statewide, with western North Carolina experiencing the most severe impact. The hurricane left many mountain communities isolated due to road washouts and infrastructure damage.

Stein, who spent his first full day in office in western North Carolina, has repeatedly returned to the region, emphasizing his administration’s commitment to the area’s recovery.

“We cannot forget western North Carolina,” he said.

Church’s nonprofit is focusing on partnering with established organizations that can quickly deliver aid to affected families, with the housing initiative representing a significant step toward rebuilding efforts.

The governor’s office indicated that additional state and federal resources would be directed toward the region as recovery continues, with a focus on sustainable rebuilding and community resilience.

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