North Carolina Railroad Company helps businesses get back on track

One year after Hurricane Helene, Western North Carolina is rebuilding with help from the North Carolina Railroad Company (NCRR). Through its award-winning Back-on-Track Disaster Recovery Program, NCRR invested $8.2 million to support local businesses, restore rail infrastructure and strengthen communities.

“Back-on-Track is more than a grant; it’s a commitment to North Carolina’s people and economy,” said Carl Warren, NCRR’s president and CEO.“ Strategic support and swift action helped protect jobs, restore operations and keep supply chains moving.”

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. 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,” said 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.

“The support was fast, helpful, and arrived exactly when we needed it,” said Mandi McKay, chief sustainability & social impact officer at Sierra Nevada Brewing. “It kept our operations intact and helped us support the broader community.”

McKay emphasized the shared commitment to rail: “NCRR’s recovery program ensured rail remained viable—something that aligns directly with our company values.”

The Back-on-Track program delivered essential aid to rail-dependent businesses and short line railroads facing uninsurable losses. Nonprofit economic development organizations also received funds for disaster recovery strategic planning. Citizens benefitted from this impact fund across seven Western North Carolina counties: Buncombe, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Swain, Watauga and Wilkes.

In recognition of the program’s success, the International Economic Development Council awarded NCRR the 2025 Excellence in Economic Development Gold Award. Back-on-Track’s innovative approach to disaster relief and long-term economic resilience was highlighted. The program’s impact goes beyond infrastructure; it helped communities rebuild, protect jobs and stabilize local economies in a time of crisis.

As the recovery continues, NCRR will keep standing with North Carolina communities, every mile forward.