Town secures millions in grants to boost infrastructure, strengthen water systems, enhance pedestrian safety post-Hurricane Helene
The Town of Bryson City is working on various capital improvement projects focused on enhancing pedestrian safety and improving water distribution and sewer collection systems.
These projects are funded by a combination of grants and loans, some with principal forgiveness. Other smaller budgeted projects, such as paving, are underway.
Grants
Town Engineer Nate Bowe reflected on Hurricane Helene to give insight into the town’s next steps.
“The events of Hurricane Helene are well known to all of us in Western North Carolina,” said Nate Bowe, town engineer. “The town experienced flooding, power outages, the loss of internet and cell communications, and other significant impacts. Town staff worked diligently through the storm and were able to minimize disruptions to the town’s water and sewer systems, but Helene brought our attention to specific areas where improvements should be made so that we are better prepared to face future natural disasters.”
The town has utilized several post-hurricane funding programs. Bowe discussed the North Carolina State Revolving Fund Helene Supplemental Program, the North Carolina Department of Commerce Small Business Infrastructure Grant Program, and the U.S. Economic Development Administration Disaster Supplemental Grant Program.
“As mentioned in the Dec. 18 edition of the Smoky Mountain Times, the town applied for and was awarded a total of $9,756,300 from the State Revolving Fund Helene Supplemental Program that will be used to upgrade and strengthen specific components of our water distribution and sewer collection systems,” Bowe said. “There is no local match or debt service required for this funding.”
Last summer, the town issued an advisory regarding water system river crossings after a waterline was compromised.
Fortunately, the Southwestern North Carolina Planning and Economic Development Commission helped Bryson City obtain a $1,000,000 grant from the NC Commerce SmBIZ Program.
“Regular testing by our water treatment plant staff alerted us to possible damage to the pipeline caused by Helene, which was confirmed by additional field investigation,” said Bowe. “We immediately shut down the pipeline and began searching for funding to replace it.”
The new grant-funded water line is under construction in the Slope Street area.
The Southwestern Commission has stepped up once again, this time by submitting a $10,000,000 grant application to the EDA Disaster Supplemental Grant Program. The grant is expected to fund additional improvements to the town’s water distribution system.
“This program requires a 20% local match, but the town solicited assistance from Dogwood Health Trust, which has graciously offered to cover the town’s match up to $2,000,000,” Bowe said. “If successful, our EDA application will be funded at no cost to the town. The proposed project generally includes two new storage tanks and an additional water line river crossing, along with other related improvements.”
Bowe said he believes the project will strengthen the town’s overall water system to attract new job-creating businesses and improve the amount of water available for firefighting operations.
Wastewater Treatment Plant Improvements
The town will launch the expansion of its wastewater treatment plant in May, with construction expected to take place over approximately two years.
According to Bowe, the construction will result in a brand-new screening process, biological treatment, and ultraviolet disinfection system with 50% more capacity than the existing plant. The wastewater treatment plant expansion is funded by grants and loans, some with principal forgiveness, totaling $26,235,600 through the NC Department of Environmental Quality Division of Water Infrastructure.
“We performed a great deal of value engineering with the assistance of our design consultant, McGill Associates, to reduce the loan amount as much as possible,” he said.
Water Meter Replacement and Service Line Material Identification
Town contractors have been replacing water meters as part of the upgrade to an Advanced Metering Infrastructure system.
Bowe said the old meters have reached end of life and can only be read once per month using a drive-by reading system.
“The new AMI meters will report wirelessly to tower-mounted collectors multiple times per day, allowing us to provide customers with more detailed information about their water consumption, including the ability to alert you when the system detects a possible water leak on your service line,” he said.
Following installation of the AMI meters, contractors will conduct an inventory of the town’s water service lines as required by state and federal regulations.
“Water customers will receive related information in the mail each year until this process is complete,” Bowe said. “The meter replacement project is being funded with a loan, while the service line inventory project will be paid for by the NCDEQ Division of Water Infrastructure.”
Swain County Middle School Project
Swain County received $52 million from the North Carolina Needs-Based Public School Capital Fund in October 2024 to build a new middle school on Black Hill Road. However, water and sewer utilities in the site selected require upgrades to serve the demands of the proposed school, safely and reliably.
“The Town of Bryson City, Swain County, and the school board have engaged in productive conversations regarding how we can work together to complete the necessary improvements while keeping the school project on schedule,” Bowe said.
Main Street Pedestrian Improvements
Sidewalks along Main Street will undergo a spring makeover.
“The town has received a grant from the NC Commerce Rural Transformation Grant Fund in the amount of $900,000, along with another $200,000 from the State Capital and Infrastructure Fund, for improvements to sidewalks and other pedestrian facilities along Main Street,” Bowe said.
Veterans Boulevard Pedestrian Improvements
According to Bowe, NCDOT will design and implement pedestrian crossing improvements at the intersection of Veterans Boulevard and Main Street. This project is funded by a $50,000 NCDOT grant, with assistance from the Southwestern Commission.
“Construction projects like these can be noisy, messy, and generally disruptive to our normal day,” he said.
Bowe reminded residents to remain patient while improvements are made.
“On a personal note, I want to applaud the individuals who keep the Town of Bryson City running,” Bowe said. “There are only about 40 of us, including the mayor and aldermen, town manager, our tireless office staff, police, fire, and public works — including water treatment and distribution, sewer collection and treatment, streets, and garbage. These folks are your friends and neighbors who work each day to respond to emergencies, keep the water on, pick up the garbage, pave the streets, repair water and sewer lines, and improve the systems that we all rely on but often take for granted.”