Happy holidays from the Golden LEAF Board and staff!
2025 Funding
In 2025, the Golden LEAF Board of Directors awarded funding totaling more than $102 million for 60 new projects and additional funding for five current projects as follows:
The Golden LEAF Board awarded $100 million in funding to support 60 projects for job creation and economic investment, workforce preparedness, agriculture, and scholarships through the Open Grants Program, Economic Catalyst Program, Community-Based Grants Initiative, the SITE Program, and the Golden LEAF Scholarship Program.
Following Hurricane Helene, the Golden LEAF Board also created a Hurricane Helene Disaster Relief Initiative. The Golden LEAF Board awarded additional funding totaling $2,060,000.
Major Initiatives
In 2025, three major initiatives supported by the Golden LEAF Foundation reached significant milestones.
NC Ag Leads launched its strategic plan for North Carolina agriculture, positioning the state’s number one economic driver for continued growth and long-term success.
The Golden LEAF Schools Initiative announced the 15 North Carolina middle schools selected to participate, followed by a kickoff training in July. The initiative represents educational innovation across rural communities, introducing a new school improvement approach focused on educator development, student outcomes, and high-quality mathematics instruction.
The Golden LEAF Board awarded the first Strategic Projects Advancing Rural Communities (SPARC) Initiative grant to the North Carolina Community College System. The project supports five rural community colleges in the AdvanceNC partnership and reflects SPARC’s goal of funding bold, collaborative efforts that address critical needs and create transformative opportunities in rural North Carolina.
New Team Members
Two team members joined the Golden LEAF staff in 2025 to support the growth of the Foundation and its programs. Learn more about each of the new hires by clicking the links: Jala Hill, Scholarship Program Associate and Sydney DeLancey, External Affairs and Strategic Initiatives Manager.
Golden LEAF Board
Golden LEAF’s 15-member Board of Directors is appointed by the Governor, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House. The Foundation Board holds meetings every other month to award funds for projects supporting long-term economic growth. Golden LEAF elected new Board Officers and Committee Chairs in December:
Board Officers
Chair of the Board – Brian Raynor of Cumberland County
Vice Chair of the Board – O.A. “Buddy” Keller of Lee County
Treasurer – Bobbie Richardson of Franklin County
Secretary – Jeffery Lee of Johnston County
Assistant Secretary – Bobbie Richardson of Franklin County
Committee Chairs
Programs Committee – Ralph Strayhorn of Mecklenburg County
Personnel / Nominations Committee – David Rose of Nash County
Finance Committee – Randy Isenhower of Catawba County
Investment Committee – O.A. “Buddy” Keller of Lee County
Audit Committee – Barry Dodson of Rockingham County
Golden LEAF welcomed three new Board members in 2025, Michael Easley, Jr., William R. “Bill” Webb, Jr., and James “Jim” Harrell, III. Read more about Golden LEAF’s Board meetings in the press releases below:
Critical Conversations
As part of its mission, Golden LEAF convenes with leaders throughout the state. One way Golden LEAF helps share this information with its stakeholders is through a “Critical Conversations” series. In this series, Golden LEAF President, Chief Executive Officer Scott T. Hamilton talks with professionals about economic development issues affecting the state. Watch the 2025 Critical Conversations in the links below:
- January – Alfredo Romero, Interim Chair of Economics at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
- February – Jama Campbell, Executive Director of the State Employees Credit Union (SECU) Foundation
- March – Steve Troxler, North Carolina Agriculture Commissioner
- April – Lee Lilley North Carolina Department of Commerce Secretary
- May – Anita Brown-Graham, Founder and Director of ncIMPACT
- June – Paul Ulanch, Director of the NC Agtech Council
- July – Ted Lord, Golden LEAF Senior Vice President/General Counsel
- August – Maurice “Mo” Green, State Superintendent of Public Instruction
- September – Edward Olive, Director of the University of Mount Olive Lois G. Britt Agribusiness Center
- October – Sharon Decker, Senior Advisor for Long-Term Recovery for the Governor’s Recovery Office for Western North Carolina (GROW NC)
- November – Mary Shuping, Executive Director of the North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority (NCSEAA)
- December – Reggie Strickland, President and Chief Executive Officer of Strickland Farming
Looking Ahead
As we look forward to 2026, Golden LEAF remains committed to building on this momentum through our programs and strategic initiatives that create lasting impact for North Carolina’s rural communities. Working alongside North Carolina’s local governments, community colleges, public and private universities, public school systems, economic development organizations, and nonprofits, Golden LEAF will continue to champion strategies that strengthen rural communities and build a more resilient North Carolina economy.