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Jenny Tinklepaugh
jtinklepaugh@goldenleaf.org
888-684-8404

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Press Release

Golden LEAF Announces Golden LEAF Opportunities for Work Initiative

March 23, 2009

New grantsmaking strategy to provide workforce training for jobs available now

Rocky Mount, NC) – March 20, 2009 –At its March Board meeting, the Golden LEAF Foundation Board of Directors took bold action to address the challenges of the state’s current economy and created a new grantsmaking strategy to get vocational/ technical training to North Carolina’s workforce for jobs that are currently available.

The Foundation will be accepting grant applications for the Golden LEAF Opportunities for Work (GLOW) initiative for short-term, non-degree workforce development projects providing vocational/ technical training. The Board will be targeting identified employment opportunities in tobacco-dependent, economically distressed and/or rural communities. Projects should create trained workers eligible for immediate placement in specified, permanent, full-time jobs requiring these new skills.

“With two-thirds of North Carolina counties at unemployment rates over ten percent, Golden LEAF is taking quick action to fund projects that will put people in good jobs as fast as possible,” said Dan Gerlach, President of the Golden LEAF Foundation. “The GLOW Initiative will support organizations that will build the talent, knowledge and skills needed to fill available jobs.”

The Foundation has earmarked $3.5 million for the Initiative. There will be three deadlines for GLOW annually for as long as funds are available. Deadlines are April 30, June 30 and August 31.

For more information, please visit here or contact Mark Sorrells or Ted Lord by e-mail at msorrells@goldenleaf.org or tlord@goldenleaf.org or by phone at (888) 684-8404.

About the Golden LEAF Foundation:
The Golden LEAF Foundation is a nonprofit organization established in 1999 to help transform North Carolina’s economy. The foundation receives one-half of North Carolina’s funds from the 1998 Master Settlement Agreement with cigarette manufacturers and places special emphasis on assisting tobacco-dependent, economically distressed and/or rural communities across the state. The Golden LEAF Foundation works in partnership with local governments, educational institutions, economic development organizations and nonprofits to achieve its mission. The foundation has awarded 760 grants totaling more than $373 million since its inception. For more information about Golden LEAF, or to learn more about applying for a grant, visit www.goldenleaf.org or call (888) 684-8404.