NC S589

Appropriates $400,000,000 in nonrecurring funds from the General Fund to the Department of Commerce for fiscal year 2025-2026 to provide grants to Tier One counties (the most economically distressed counties in North Carolina)

Grants must support projects promoting self-sufficiency, infrastructure improvement, education, or workforce development, with each county eligible for up to $10,000,000

Counties must submit proposals to the Department of Commerce detailing intended use of funds, which must be approved before disbursement; up to 1% of funds may be used for program administration

Counties receiving grants for which they are ineligible must forfeit and repay the awarded amounts

Requires annual reporting to the legislature beginning December 1, 2025, detailing total funding disbursed, number of applicants, and actual uses of funds by recipient counties