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 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.

Our Impact

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Since its inception in 1999, Golden LEAF has provided lasting impact to tobacco-dependent, economically distressed and rural areas of the state helping build both human and physical infrastructure.

Jobs Created
0 +
In New Payroll
$ 0 M+
Workers trained across N.C.
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Discover Our Success Stories

North Carolina State Map
Snowbird Wilderness Outfitters connects to sewer to expand, create new jobs

Snowbird Wilderness
Outfitters connects to sewer
to expand, create new jobs

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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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Cleveland Community College breaks ground on advanced manufacturing center

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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Guilford County apprenticeship program recruits students into manufacturing jobs

Guilford County
apprenticeship program
recruits students into
manufacturing jobs

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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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Fayetteville State University expands nursing program

Fayetteville State
University expands nursing
program

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Vance County wins jobs, community partner with MAKO Medical Laboratories

Vance County wins jobs,
community partner with
MAKO Medical
Laboratories

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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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East Carolina University, community colleges collaborate to build workforce pipeline for BioPharma Crescent

East Carolina University,
community colleges
collaborate to build
workforce pipeline for
BioPharma Crescent

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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

RCC Days (8)

LevelUp Rockingham initiative builds talent pipeline for key industries

May 21, 2025
CCC_NURSING-4820

Building a healthcare workforce pipeline in Cleveland County through powerful partnership

May 21, 2025
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Golden LEAF Scholar Alumni Spotlight: Chandler Bumgarner

Golden LEAF Scholar alumnus Chandler Bumgarner grew up in Taylorsville, N.C., in rural Alexander County, holding a sense of community close to his heart. This sense of community was significant as he began his college career at Western Carolina University. Chandler Bumgarner’s closest friends from back home attended his college with him, signifying what it meant to him to have a community and family of friends to lean on.
May 7, 2025

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