Access to quality healthcare is an important component of economic development in rural North Carolina. Healthcare facilities create employment opportunities, provide essential services for residents, and help communities attract and retain businesses and workers.
Throughout 2026, the Golden LEAF Foundation awarded more than $1.9 million to support five healthcare projects expected to create new jobs while expanding access to medical services in rural and economically distressed communities across the state.
These investments support the establishment and expansion of healthcare facilities, the restoration of services in underserved areas, and the development of new employment opportunities for rural residents.
In western North Carolina, Golden LEAF funding is supporting healthcare expansion projects that will create new jobs while increasing access to medical services.
In June 2026, the Golden LEAF Board of Directors awarded $200,000 to Appalachian Mountain Health to support the conversion of an existing 8,740-square-foot medical facility in Black Mountain into a comprehensive Federally Qualified Health Center.
The facility will provide primary care, behavioral health, dental care, women’s health, pediatric care, pharmacy, and laboratory services. The project is expected to create 51 new jobs paying an average annual wage of nearly $77,000, providing employment opportunities for residents of Black Mountain, Old Fort, and surrounding rural communities.
In February 2026, the Golden LEAF Board awarded $500,000 to Mountain Community Health Partnership to equip a new integrated healthcare clinic in Spruce Pine. The 20,000-square-foot facility will bring primary care, behavioral health, pharmacy, and supportive services together under one roof.
The project will also replace behavioral health services previously provided at the Micaville Health Center, which was destroyed by Hurricane Helene. In addition to restoring access to care for residents of Mitchell and Yancey counties, the project is expected to create 24 full-time jobs with an average annual salary of approximately $70,000.
Golden LEAF funds will support essential exam room, diagnostic, and treatment equipment.
In eastern North Carolina, Golden LEAF investments are helping healthcare providers establish facilities and expand services in communities where access to care can be limited.
In August 2026, the Golden LEAF Board awarded $450,000 to Goshen Medical Center to equip a new Federally Qualified Health Center in Sneads Ferry. The facility is expected to serve at least 1,400 new patients in rural Onslow and Pender counties while creating more than 20 full-time positions.
Golden LEAF funding will support medical equipment and furnishings for exam rooms, a laboratory, imaging suite, nursing station, pharmacy, and other clinical spaces.
In Beaufort County, the Golden LEAF Board awarded $400,000 to Metropolitan Community Health Services to support the restoration of a former healthcare clinic in Aurora. The project will convert an existing 4,700-square-foot building into a medical facility offering primary care, emergency stabilization, diagnostic services, and pharmacy support.
The project is expected to create 25 full-time healthcare-related jobs while establishing permanent access to medical services in the community.
Golden LEAF is also supporting improvements to emergency medical services in Martin County. In June, the Golden LEAF Board awarded $361,500 to the county to purchase Paramedic Emergency Response Vehicles as part of a new emergency response system.
The project will create new paramedic positions paying at least $62,000 annually, while improving emergency and prehospital care for county residents. The expanded services are particularly important as Martin County works to reopen its hospital.
These healthcare facilities contribute to rural economic development in multiple ways. They create jobs across a range of medical and support occupations, provide opportunities for residents to build careers close to home, and improve access to services that support a healthy workforce.
The five healthcare job creation projects funded by Golden LEAF in 2026 are expected to create more than 120 jobs, including positions in communities recovering from Hurricane Helene and areas where residents face challenges accessing medical services.
These projects also demonstrate the importance of healthcare infrastructure to economic competitiveness. Businesses considering locating or expanding in rural communities depend on access to essential services for their employees and families. Strengthening healthcare capacity helps communities meet those needs while supporting existing residents and employers.
Through investments in healthcare facilities, equipment, and emergency medical services, Golden LEAF is helping rural North Carolina communities create employment opportunities, expand access to care, and build a stronger foundation for long-term economic advancement.