Happy Thanksgiving! As we gather with family and friends this week, I’ve been reflecting on the past year and the many reasons I’m grateful. This month marked my sixth anniversary as president of Golden LEAF, which gives me an opportunity to pause and appreciate the impact made across North Carolina’s rural communities. I am grateful for the determination of rural leaders who continue to build and implement thoughtful economic development strategies.
Over the past year, the Golden LEAF Board of Directors awarded approximately $89 million to support job creation and economic investment, strengthen the agriculture economy, and expand workforce training. Golden LEAF supported strategic projects through the Economic Catalyst Program, Open Grants Program, and the Community-Based Grants Initiative in the Southwestern Prosperity Zone.
Highlights from this year’s awards show the economic impact being made across North Carolina. In Union County, a food innovation center and expanded food hub project is helping strengthen the agricultural economy. In Hoke County, a job creation and economic investment strategy includes extending sewer service to an industrial park that will help Pennsylvania Transformer Technology, LLC. create 217 new jobs. Recently, Johnston Community College was awarded funding for a workforce preparedness project that will provide training equipment that will support the arrival of a major manufacturer, Vulcan Elements, bringing 1,000 quality jobs to the state.
This year also marked an important milestone for the SPARC Initiative. The Golden LEAF Board awarded its first SPARC project to the North Carolina Community College System for AdvanceNC, a regional collaborative aligning training across 12 community colleges. This $1 million SPARC award supports training equipment in five of the community colleges serving the 12 most rural counties across a 21-county region. AdvanceNC will create micro-pathways to standardize training across institutions and to connect learners with high-demand, well-paying jobs. Projects like AdvanceNC are exactly what SPARC was designed to support, the bold, collaborative opportunities that can reshape the economic trajectory of rural North Carolina.
Industrial site preparation continues to be a strategy of the Golden LEAF Board. Through the SITE Program, the Golden LEAF Board awarded seven projects totaling $4 million this year to help economic developers in Caldwell, Greene, Lenoir, Northampton, Onslow, Robeson, and Vance counties advance their readiness for industry recruitment across all three stages of the SITE Program: Identification, Due Diligence, and Development.
As the Board evaluated emerging needs this year, we strengthened two areas critical to long-term economic competitiveness. In February, the Board approved guidelines allowing local governments and 501(c)(3) nonprofits to apply through the Open Grants Program for infrastructure projects that support workforce housing, an essential factor in sustaining job creation and economic investment in rural communities. In April, the Board created a funding opportunity for entities developing major healthcare workforce training programs with capital budgets of at least $10 million, enabling them to request up to $1 million for training equipment and related capital expenses. This strategy will help expand the pipeline of essential healthcare workers, particularly in rural areas facing acute shortages.
In agriculture, the statewide strategic planning effort reached an important point this May with the release of the NC Ag Leads strategic plan. Backed by broad industry support and informed by thousands of hours of research and engagement, the plan lays out actionable strategies to strengthen and grow North Carolina’s largest industry. I’m grateful for the dedication of farmers, agribusiness leaders, researchers, and educators who helped shape a plan that will guide agriculture into the future.
Golden LEAF remains committed to developing the next generation of rural leaders. In April, the Board awarded $3 million to the North Carolina Community College System for the Golden LEAF Community Colleges Scholarship, supporting students from rural and suburban counties attending participating community colleges. In October, the Board awarded $2.9 million to the North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority to administer the Golden LEAF Colleges and Universities Scholarship. Scholars may also participate in the Rural Internship Initiative, a paid internship program that places students in rural communities, benefiting both students and the rural businesses, nonprofits, and organizations that host them.
This year also reminded us of the importance of resilience. Hurricane Helene dealt a devastating blow to Western North Carolina in September 2024. Golden LEAF acted quickly to support recovery. A total of $5.3 million has been awarded by Golden LEAF to date to help families with home repairs, address unmet needs, and assist communities navigating FEMA transitions.
None of this work would be possible without the leadership of the Golden LEAF Board and the dedication of the Golden LEAF team. Their commitment to rural North Carolina and to the mission and strategy of the foundation ensures our work is both thoughtful and impactful. I am deeply grateful for their service.
As we look ahead, I am excited about what’s on the horizon. Our initiatives and programs will build on our strategic plan and position communities for the jobs of today and the opportunities of tomorrow. Our long-term, multifaceted approach to economic development will continue to strengthen communities across the state.
This season of gratitude reminds us not only to celebrate progress, but also to remain focused on the strategies that will create new jobs, train and upskill our workforce, and grow our agriculture economy. Together, we are shaping a stronger economic future for North Carolina.
Happy Thanksgiving and thank you for being part of this important work.