Greene County, Cherokee National Forest Sign $3.1M Helene Recovery Agreement

GREENE COUNTY, Tenn. — Greene County is partnering with the Cherokee National Forest on a new $3.1 million Hurricane Helene recovery agreement aimed at speeding long-term restoration work in the area.

County leaders and Cherokee National Forest officials signed the agreement Friday at Horse Creek Recreation Area, one of the public recreation sites affected by Helene-related damage.

The funding comes through a federal grant connected to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service’s Good Neighbor Authority, which allows local and federal partners to work together on forest, recreation and infrastructure recovery projects.

The agreement is expected to help Greene County and forest officials coordinate work more efficiently as the region continues rebuilding from Helene’s impacts. Recovery needs across the area include damaged public lands, recreation access, roads, trails and other outdoor infrastructure.

For residents, the partnership is another sign that Helene recovery is moving from emergency response into longer-term rebuilding. It also matters for visitors, hikers, campers and outdoor businesses that depend on access to Cherokee National Forest sites in Greene County.

Officials described the agreement as a first-of-its-kind partnership for the area and a step toward restoring public spaces that remain important to both local quality of life and the region’s outdoor economy.