**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** HURRICANE HELENE CAUSED UNPRECEDENTED FLOODING RESULTING IN OVER $41 BILLION IN DAMAGES ACROSS 37 COUNTIES IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA HOME TO OVER 40% OF THE STATE'S POPULATION. THE AGRICULTURE SECTOR WAS DEVASTATED AND SCHOOL SYSTEMS CLOSED DUE TO DAMAGED BUILDINGS OR DAMAGES TO NECESSARY INFRASTRUCTURE ROADS WATER SYSTEMS ETC. THIS PROPOSAL TARGETS AGRICULTURAL STAKEHOLDERS IN FOUR OF THE HARDEST HIT COUNTIES CREATING A YOUTH SERVICE CORPS PROGRAM TO PROVIDE NEEDED LABOR FOR RECOVERY EFFORTS AS WELL AS STRUCTURE COMMUNITY AND LEARNING FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS. AT THE SAME TIME IT WILL BUILD LOCAL CAPACITY FOR COMMUNITIES AND THE NEXT GENERATION TO MITIGATE AND RECOVER FROM FUTURE EXTREME WEATHER-RELATED DISASTERS. THE GOAL OF THIS PROGRAM IS TO SUPPORT DISASTER RECOVERY FOSTER SOCIO-EMOTIONAL RESILIENCE OF IMPACTED YOUTH AND REBUILD RESILIENT FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS IN THE AREAS MOST IMPACTED BY HURRICANE HELEN. THROUGH A COMBINATION OF INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP RECOVERY PROJECTS STUDENTS WILL ASSIST FARMERS AND AGRICULTURAL STAKEHOLDERS WITH NECESSARY REPAIRS WHILE LEARNING CAREER AND PERSONAL SKILLS THAT WILL BETTER PREPARE THEM FOR EMPLOYMENT AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT IN THE FUTURE. WE WILL LEVERAGE EXISTING ON THE GROUND NETWORKS (EXTENSION 4-H COUNTY AGENCIES SCHOOLS ETC.) TO HELP SELECT TEACHER COORDINATORS STUDENTS AND PROJECTS WITH THE GREATEST POTENTIAL TO PROVIDE IMMEDIATE SOLUTIONS WITH LASTING IMPACTS ON THE AGRICULTURE COMMUNITIES' LONG TERM SUSTAINABILITY. PI CRUZ IS FROM THE TARGETED REGION AND HAS BEEN VERY INVOLVED WITH THE RECOVER TO DATE AFFORDING HER THE KNOWLEDGE AND CONNECTIONS TO HIT THE GROUND RUNNING WITH THIS INNOVATIVE WNCSTRONG YOUTH SERVICE CORPS.