Bridge loan Program

Bridge Loan Program

The North Carolina General Assembly has allocated emergency disaster recovery funding to the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, Underground Storage Tank Section (NCDEQ-UST) to assist owners and operators with testing and repairing petroleum and hazardous substance underground storage tanks (USTs) affected by Hurricane Helene. The bridge loan program can be used to repair and test commercial underground storage tank systems located in Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Clay, Cleveland, Gaston, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Transylvania, Watauga, Wilkes, Yancey counties and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. Eligible services include line and tank testing, product removal and disposal, and repair or replacement of aboveground piping, dispensers, and electronics. Examples of eligible projects include pumping water from USTs and integrity testing of tanks, piping, spill buckets, and containment sumps.

This loan program is intended to provide temporary financial assistance for emergency services until federal disaster relief or insurance reimbursement is received. If awarded, the loan will be interest-free and will mature upon the earlier of receiving federal disaster relief or other funding, or by June 30, 2030.

If you are interested in applying for the Bridge Loan Program, please use the following link to submit an interest form and you will receive a response with more information. If you have any questions, reach out to Meredith Love Gawai at meredith.lovegawai@deq.nc.gov.