News

Edwards touts new Etowah-Horse Shoe EMS station in House appropriations bill

By Lightning Reports, Published: June 29, 2026

A grant of $1.5 million for an Etowah-Horse Shoe EMS substation to improve emergency response times and expand access to critical emergency medical services in a growing area of Henderson County was included in a series of spending bills that advanced in the House Appropriations Committee this year, U.S. Rep. Chuck Edwards announced.

Edwards voted in favor of all 12 annual federal appropriations bills through the committee this year, securing more than $25 million in targeted investments for communities across Western North Carolina.

"As the only North Carolina appropriator, I work to ensure Western North Carolina receives critical federal investment," Edwards said in a news release."These bills will address local needs today and build a stronger future for generations to come.” 

Included in the appropriations bills are community project funding that support priorities across the 11th Congressional District, including public safety, transportation, health care, housing, water infrastructure, and ongoing disaster recovery efforts.

County officials and Etowah-Horse Shoe Fire & Rescue chief Mike Huggins said they could not comment yet on a location.

"It's still being discussed and looked at," Huggins said. "Until that happens, it's something we can’t discuss publicly. We could jeapordize the deal on one side or the other. We hope to have something moving on it sometime this month. Nothing's under contract, no money’s changed hands."

Huggins said he "wholeheatedly" supports an EMS station in the community.

"We’re pretty far out from most ambulances," he said, noting that the average response time to Etowah areas calls is 9½ minutes.

In addition to the Etowah-Horse Shoe EMS station, the bills included:

• $2 million for Asheville Regional Airport to address flooding issues, improve stormwater infrastructure and support future airport expansion and economic growth.
• $2 million for the Balsam Grove Volunteer Rescue Fire Station to construct a modern, ADA-compliant facility that improves emergency response capabilities and enhances public safety in Transylvania County.
• $1.5 million for the city of Asheville's French Broad River Parkland Corridor Improvements to strengthen parks and recreational infrastructure against future flooding while enhancing public access along the river.
• $5 million for the Land of Sky Regional Council to support housing recovery efforts for low-income households impacted by Hurricane Helene, including home repairs, rehabilitation, replacement housing, and stabilization services across Western North Carolina.
• $3 million for Mitchell County to create a countywide emergency shelter, feeding facility, emergency operations space, and community resource center that strengthens disaster preparedness and recovery efforts.

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