The 2026 round of interest free Cashflow Loans is now being distributed to communities in Western North Carolina. The legislature was able to set aside $20 million in the 2026 state budget as part of ongoing efforts to help communities devastated by Hurricane Helene. As with the previous three rounds, this funding is administered by the North Carolina Department of State Treasurer (DST). The budgeted loan money is a significant investment, but as many still wait for federal funding to arrive, DST received more than $100 million in requests for 2026 funding alone.
Since the inception of the Cashflow Loan program 2% of appropriated funds could be used to cover the administrative cost of running it. However, by using artificial intelligence and automation tools to assist with the logistics of loan tracking and anticipated repayment schedules, DST was able to reduce administrative cost and is now sending these funds to the communities who need them most. This decision means that the entire $20 million from 2026 and $2.7 million from previous appropriations are being sent to western communities, with no administrative costs deducted.
“Our first priority is providing much needed cashflow relief to our mountain communities by getting this money to them as quickly as possible, “said Treasurer Brad Briner. “Our Department fully implemented the use of AI into our workflow months ago, with the goal of making administrative tasks easier. This is a perfect example of how harnessing the power of technology not only made the job more efficient but also meant millions of more dollars heading to communities in need.”
The Cashflow loan program was implemented in 2025 to help bridge the gap for communities who are waiting for federal dollars needed to help with rebuilding and cleanup efforts. Now, two years post-Helene, the loan program is evolving. In this round, local governments applied for the loans for specific projects and community needs. This was a departure from the previous process of using federal paperwork to determine the share of the funding each community would be awarded.
The 2026 Cashflow Loans are:
Name | County | Amount |
|---|---|---|
Town of Clyde | Haywood | $1,000,000.00 |
County of Rutherford | Rutherford | $ 2,767,787.63 |
Town of Beech Mountain | Watauga | $3,000,000.00 |
County of Madison | Madison | $3,600,000.00 |
Town of Canton | Haywood | $2,809,630.60 |
Village of Chimney Rock | Rutherford | $4,000,000.00 |
Town of Lake Lure | Rutherford | $5,000,000.00 |
County of Polk | Polk | $593,670.00 |
|
| $22,771,088.23 |
The local governments receiving funds in this round will pay back Cashflow loans with no interest no later than June 30, 2030.