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Increasing
Economic
Opportunity
in North Carolina
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The Golden LEAF
Foundation

The Golden LEAF Foundation is a nonprofit organization established in 1999 to receive a portion of North Carolina’s funding received from the 1998 Master Settlement Agreement with cigarette manufacturers. For more than 25 years, Golden LEAF has worked to increase economic opportunity in North Carolina’s rural and tobacco-dependent communities through leadership in grantmaking, collaboration, innovation, and stewardship as an independent and perpetual foundation.

Learn More About Us

Strategic Priority Areas

Job Creation and Economic Investment

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Workforce Preparedness

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Agriculture

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Downtown of a small city in North Carolina

Community Competitiveness and Capacity

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How Can We Help

Potential Applicants

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Current Grantees

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Golden LEAF Scholarships

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Golden LEAF Updates

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Take the Funding 101 Quiz

Move the Economic Needle

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Our Programs for Governmental Entities and 501(c)(3) Nonprofits
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Scholarships for High School and Community College Students

Our Impact

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For more than 25 years, the Foundation has provided lasting impact to tobacco-dependent, economically distressed, and rural areas of the state. See our fiscal year 2025 impact below:

Jobs Created
0 +
In New Payroll
$ 0 M+
Workers trained across N.C.
0

Discover Our Success Stories

North Carolina State Map
Partnership results in anchor tenant, 263 new jobs in Henderson County

Partnership results in
anchor tenant, 263 new jobs
in Henderson County

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Western NC gains new jobs, increased healthcare capacity, expanded services despite pandemic

Western NC gains new jobs,
increased healthcare
capacity, expanded
services despite pandemic

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Building a healthcare workforce pipeline in Cleveland County through powerful partnership

Cleveland Community
College breaks ground on
advanced manufacturing
center

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Gaston County Schools creating an advanced manufacturing workforce through career academy

Gaston County Schools
creating an advanced
manufacturing workforce
through career academy

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Wilkes County completes the three phases of the SITE Program

Wilkes County completes
the three phases of the
SITE Program

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Surry and Yadkin counties invest in local workforce

Surry and Yadkin counties
invest in local workforce

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Golden LEAF, partner organizations cut ribbon on NC Food Innovation Lab

Golden LEAF, partner
organizations cut ribbon on
NC Food Innovation Lab

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Town of Mocksville wins nearly 400 agribusiness jobs, more to come

Town of Mocksville wins
nearly 400 agribusiness
jobs, more to come

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LevelUp Rockingham initiative builds talent pipeline for key industries

LevelUp Rockingham
initiative builds talent pipeline
for key industries

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New cooler space improves access to local foods

New cooler space improves
access to local foods

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Golden LEAF supports entrepreneurship in the Sandhills

Golden LEAF supports
entrepreneurship in the
Sandhills

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Southeastern Community College creates state-of-the-art simulation lab

Southeastern Community
College creates state-of-
the-art simulation lab

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Healthcare workforce programs deliver strong economic impact in Southeastern North Carolina

Healthcare workforce programs
deliver strong economic
impact in Southeastern
North Carolina

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Hospital in Franklin County creating jobs, providing increased access to healthcare

Hospital in Franklin County
creating jobs, providing
increased access to
healthcare

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Wilson Community College receives Golden LEAF funding to support the creation of 420 jobs

Wilson Community College
receives Golden LEAF
funding to support the
creation of 420 jobs

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Martin Community College line technician program

Martin Community College
line technician program

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College of the Albemarle machinist program helps fill employer needs

College of the Albemarle
machinist program helps fill
employer needs

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Collaboration creates workforce solutions in high-demand trades

Collaboration creates
workforce solutions in high-
demand trades

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Sampson Community College builds trades center to address local agriculture industry skills demand

Sampson Community
College builds trades
center to address local
agriculture industry skills
demand

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University of Mount Olive livestock training facility to provide hands-on learning for students, farmers

University of Mount Olive
livestock training facility to
provide hands-on learning
for students, farmers

Learn More

Featured News

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Infrastructure propels economic growth in Stanly County

Stanly County is seeing tangible returns from a strategic infrastructure improvement at Riverstone Industrial Park. Golden LEAF funding to extend and improve the access road off Brown’s Hill Road transformed both how the park functions and how it was perceived by prospective employers. In 2021, the Golden LEAF Board of Directors awarded $159,034 to extend and improve access into Riverstone Industrial Park. The road improvement helped American Racing Headers locate a new facility at the park, creating 56 new jobs with an average annual wage above the county average and making a capital investment of $4.375 million.
January 21, 2026
Copy of Scholar Spotlight (74)

Applications for Golden LEAF Colleges and Universities Scholarship due March 1, 2026

Rocky Mount, N.C., (January 13, 2026) - The Golden LEAF Colleges and Universities Scholarship application for the 2026-2027 academic year is now available at CFNC.org. A total of 215 awards will be offered to first-time recipients from qualifying counties. Applications are due March 1, 2026.
January 13, 2026
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Critical Conversations (79)
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Golden LEAF Critical Conversations is now a Podcast: First episode on the 2025 Economic Overview and 2026 Economic Outlook is live

Golden LEAF Critical Conversations has officially moved to a podcast format and is now available for download on Spotify, making it easier than ever to listen on your schedule. Hosted by Golden LEAF President, Chief Executive Officer Scott T. Hamilton, Golden LEAF Critical Conversations features conversations with professionals about the most pressing economic development issues shaping communities across North Carolina.
January 7, 2026

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