Cooper visits Kinston to promote ReBUILD NC
Gov. Roy Cooper addresses the media following a tour of ReBUILD NC offices at the Kinston Enterprise Center on Tuesday. Photo by Bryan Hanks / Neuse News
By Bryan Hanks
If you need to rebuild your home due to damage from Hurricane Matthew or the flood that followed, help is on the way.
Gov. Roy Cooper visited the Kinston Enterprise Center on Tuesday to promote the housing help program known as ReBUILD NC. He said more than $730 million of Hurricane Matthew relief – federal and state funds – had already been distributed in North Carolina.
“One of the purposes of my visit is to let the public know that this is available for them,” Cooper said. “They can come by this application center to apply for hurricane recovery relief. They can also call 211 and get information about applying, as well.”
Gov. Roy Cooper and Kinston Mayor Dontario Hardy chat about recovery relief in Kinston. Photo by Bryan Hanks / Neuse Neuse
Cooper visited with employees who are working in the offices – Rooms 308, 310 and 312 – of the Enterprise Center. He shook hands and personally thanked them for their service before addressing the media.
Cooper briefed Kinston Mayor Dontario Hardy and the members of the Kinston City Council -- who were all on hand for the tour -- about the process for homeowners to apply for assistance.
The process includes eight steps:
1. Application – Homeowners call 211 to make an appointment, complete the housing application and provide required documents
2. Eligibility review – Homeowners provide any additional documents, if needed
3. Duplication review – Homeowners provide receipts and/or proof of payment for completed work, if needed, and notify ReBUILD NC of disaster assistance already provided
4. Inspection and environmental review – Homeowners have an adult member of the household home during inspection and sign forms once inspection is complete
5. Grant determination – Homeowners make an appointment to review the grant award and sign documents to finalize the grant offer
6. Contractor selection – Homeowners schedule a walkthrough for contractor (if needed), make an appointment to sign the contract agreement and notify ReBUILD NC if temporary housing is needed
7. Construction – Homeowners sign forms during construction (instructions, change orders, etc.) and verify work is completed
8. Completion – Homeowners have a final walkthrough with the contractor and ReBUILD NC staff and secure flood insurance if they live in the 100-year floodplain
“We know applications can be a complicated process, because there are a lot of things that have to be done to satisfy federal regulations,” Cooper said. “But we have people here who can help them. We want them to know this is available to them.”
Gov. Roy Cooper and Mikel Taylor, 18, share a laugh during the governor's visit on Tuesday. Taylor is an intern for Kinston Teens this summer. Photo by Bryan Hanks / Neuse News
Cooper said 83 homes in Lenoir County had been approved to be rebuilt, repaired, elevated or bought out so far and that $35 million had been spent thus far in the county.
“We’re working as hard as we can to get help to people as fast as we can,” Cooper said. “Victims of Hurricane Matthew need to know help is on the way.”
