CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The North Carolina Department of State Treasurer has distributed nearly $150 million in interest-free loans to western North Carolina communities still recovering from Hurricane Helene , officials announced.

The cash flow loan program was designed to help local governments bridge funding gaps while waiting for federal relief dollars, according to Treasurer Brad Briner.

"Day one of my administration, and even before that, I knew helping those communities devastated by Hurricane Helene needed to be a primary focus," Briner said. "Through two separate appropriations, the General Assembly tasked my team with getting interest-free loans to local governments in need, and in the quickest way possible."

The department has distributed three rounds of loans over nine months thro

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