Hurricane Helene Cleanup Grant

The Hurricane Helene Cleanup Grant is administered by the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services, a state-level agency responsible for environmental protection, waste management, and public health initiatives across South Carolina. This funding opportunity originates from a federal disaster relief allocation provided under the American Relief Act of 2025, which awarded approximately $6.6 million to support recovery efforts related to Hurricanes Milton and Helene. The Department is tasked with distributing these funds through subawards to local jurisdictions, specifically counties and municipalities that were formally designated in the FEMA South Carolina Disaster Declaration dated December 3, 2024. The primary purpose of this grant program is to support recovery and preparedness activities tied to disaster-related debris management. The funding emphasizes the management of solid and hazardous waste generated by Hurricane Helene, including removal, processing, and disposal of debris. In addition to immediate cleanup needs, the program promotes long-term resilience by encouraging jurisdictions to establish pre-approved disaster debris management sites and improve planning infrastructure for future emergencies. The program explicitly supports proactive measures that reduce response time and improve coordination during future disaster events. Allowable uses of funds include the purchase of equipment and resources necessary to manage increased debris loads resulting from the hurricane. Funding may also be used for technical activities such as surveying disaster debris boundaries and updating or revising solid waste management plans. These uses reflect both operational recovery and strategic planning objectives. There is no indication of required matching funds, and the grant is structured to provide direct financial support to eligible local governments without requiring cost sharing. Eligibility is restricted to counties listed in the FEMA disaster declaration and any cities or towns located within those counties. The program includes 30 specifically named counties across South Carolina, indicating a geographically targeted funding scope rather than a statewide or national opportunity. Eligible applicants must be governmental entities within these jurisdictions, and no provisions are described for nonprofit or private sector participation as direct applicants. The application process involves submission through a designated grant application form that is made available by the administering agency. For the current cycle, applications open on February 9, 2026 and close at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on April 3, 2026. The process appears to be a single-stage submission with no pre-application requirements such as letters of intent or concept papers. Interested applicants are encouraged to contact the program representative for further details or clarification prior to submission. The grant program has a defined performance period of five years, beginning October 1, 2025. This extended timeframe allows recipients to both address immediate disaster impacts and implement longer-term preparedness strategies. While the funding originates from a one-time federal relief allocation, the structure suggests a fixed-term program rather than a recurring annual opportunity. Questions regarding the grant can be directed to Sallie Williams at the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services via phone or email, providing a direct point of contact for applicants throughout the application and award process.