Asheville, North Carolina, is in the national spotlight this week as it hosts the G20 Finance Track. The Treasury Department selected the city to showcase what officials describe as a “comeback story” after Tropical Storm Helene devastated western North Carolina nearly two years ago.
Trump administration frames the summit as a recovery celebration
Senior Deputy Press Secretary Kush Desai likened Asheville to a phoenix rising from the ashes, and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent called the city a “beacon of resilience” in remarks to the press. The administration emphasizes that the summit highlights the region’s economic revitalization and the “America First” priorities of the gathering.
Recovery still incomplete in many mountain towns
Despite the fanfare, several western North Carolina communities remain far from fully rebuilt. The River Arts District and Biltmore Village have seen progress, but the Hickory Nut Gorge area—including Lake Lure, Chimney Rock, Bat Cave and Gerton—still struggles with damaged roads and lingering infrastructure repairs.
U.S. Senator Ted Budd (R‑NC) attended the summit and said he will travel to Bat Cave after the meetings to assess the remaining damage. Budd warned he will not support any disaster‑relief package that omits western North Carolina, noting his recent opposition to a supplemental aid request that would aid Florida farmers but leave North Carolina out.
Funding gaps and political contention
Helene caused roughly $60 billion in damage, yet the Governor’s Recovery Office reports only about 16 percent of the needed recovery funding has been secured. Governor Josh Stein, a Democrat, has asked Congress for an additional $10 billion, a request that remains unanswered. State contributions total about $5.3 billion, while the federal government has reportedly provided $9.5 billion—much of which has yet to be disbursed.
President Trump previously claimed that FEMA was distributing only $750 to storm victims and that aid was being diverted to illegal immigrants. Those statements were debunked before the 2024 election, but the administration continues to highlight the $5 billion it says it has secured for Helene recovery.
Local voices demand more action
Protesters gathered in downtown Asheville and at Pack Square Park, carrying signs that read “Planet over Profits” and “Workers over Billionaires.” Leslie Boyd, a chair of the North Carolina Poor People’s Campaign, said residents simply want enough money to finish the job of recovery. “We’ve only struggled to our knees; we’re not on our feet,” she told the Carolina Public Press.
Community volunteers have become the fastest responders, with neighbors helping neighbors while waiting for federal assistance. Budd criticized FEMA as a “calcified” agency, pointing to the lengthy documentation required before municipalities can receive reimbursements.
What the summit means for western North Carolina
The G20’s focus on global finance and the war in Iran may seem distant from local recovery, but officials argue that higher energy prices from international conflict raise rebuilding costs for struggling mountain towns. While the summit brings international attention and economic activity to Asheville, many residents question whether the event translates into tangible aid for the areas still rebuilding.
As the Treasury secures the Omni Grove Park Inn for the conference and other meetings unfold in the Research Triangle, western North Carolina watches closely, hoping the promised federal dollars will finally flow to the communities that need them most.
Original reporting: Carolina Public Press — read the source article.
