The North Carolina Pandemic Recovery Office (NCPRO) was established under Session Law 2020-4 of House Bill 1043 to oversee and coordinate the fiscal response to the COVID-19 pandemic. NCPRO is responsible for overseeing the distribution of the $3.6 billion in Coronavirus Relief Funds (CRF) from the U.S. Treasury to provide support to state agencies, local governments, nonprofits, hospitals, educational institutions, and research organizations. NCPRO established a robust and efficient system for distributing, tracking, auditing, and providing guidance to over 2,000 recipients of the funds provided from CRF.
In addition to CRF, NCPRO is responsible for the oversight, administration, and federal reporting for seven additional COVID-19 recovery programs: (1) the Governors Emergency Education Relief (GEER) program, (2) Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA), (3) Homeowners Assistance Fund (HAF), (4) Economic Development Administration Tourism Grant Funds, (5) Economic Development Administration Strategy Funds, (6) Capital Projects Fund, and (7) American Rescue Plan Act State Fiscal Recovery Funds (SFRF). NCPRO is responsible for providing technical guidance and support to all county and municipal governments that received funds from the American Rescue Plan Act Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (LFRF), and funds for the 525 municipalities that are flowing through the State.
The Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) program provides $546.6 million in federal funds to the State of North Carolina through the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 to assist households that are unable to pay rent and utilities due to the COVID-19 pandemic. US Treasury allocated an additional $156.4 million directly to 18 local governments and $24.4 million was provided to five tribal governments in North Carolina. NCPRO is responsible for oversight, administration, and federal reporting for the state’s allocation of the ERA funds. Additionally, NCPRO is working with state, local and tribal governments to coordinate programs and is providing technical assistance where needed.
North Carolina received $273.3 million for the Housing Assistance Fund (HAF) through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to provide financial assistance to homeowners experiencing hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Funds from this program may be used to prevent homeowner delinquencies, defaults, foreclosures, and other homeowner related expenses. NCPRO is responsible for oversight, administration, and federal reporting for the state’s allocation of HAF funds.
The State of North Carolina received $5.4 billion in American Rescue Plan Act State Fiscal Recovery Funds (SFRF) and local governments in North Carolina directly received $2.7 billion in Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (LFRF). North Carolina disbursed $686 million to 520 municipalities in accordance with U.S. Treasury rules and guidance.
Our mission is to ensure North Carolina recovers from the Coronavirus pandemic stronger, more resolved, and more resilient.