NCRR launched the Back-on-Track Disaster Recovery program last year to provide aid within FEMA-designated disaster areas to Class II and Class III railroads for infrastructure repair and/or wage support, to local rail-served industries for site recovery and operations assistance, and to local nonprofit Economic Development Organizations (EDO) in need of operations support.
Citizens across seven Western North Carolina counties—Buncombe, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Swain, Watauga, and Wilkes—benefitted from this funding.
Premier Magnesia LLC, which was acquired by Raleigh-based heavy building materials provider Martin Marietta in July, received $3 million to offset transportation costs after Hurricane Helene’s flooding damaged its Waynesville, N.C., plant and washed out nearby rail lines, according to NCRR. The disruption forced the company to truck in raw materials at higher costs for seven months.
“NCRR’s support helped stabilize our supply chain during a critical time,” commented Matt Haynes, Senior Vice President of Manufacturing Operations. “It allowed us to keep production moving while rail access was down.”
Flooding also hit Sierra Nevada Brewing Company in Fletcher, N.C., destroying its grain offloading system. Two feet of mud and silt covered the building, breached railcars, and damaged the rail spur. Sierra Nevada benefited from up to $900,000 in Back-on-Track funds to repair its spur and cover temporary trucking costs of the malt barley, according to NCRR.
“The support was fast, helpful, and arrived exactly when we needed it,” said Mandi McKay, Chief Sustainability and Social Impact Officer. “It kept our operations intact and helped us support the broader community.” McKay noted that “NCRR’s recovery program ensured rail remained viable—something that aligns directly with our company values.”
In recognition of the Back-on-Track program, NCRR earned a 2025 Excellence in Economic Development Gold Award from the International Economic Development Council. NCRR representatives were honored earlier this month at the IEDC 2025 Annual Conference in Detroit, Mich.
“Back-on-Track is more than a grant; it’s a commitment to North Carolina’s people and economy,” NCRR President and CEO Carl Warren summed up. “Strategic support and swift action helped protect jobs, restore operations and keep supply chains moving.”
