Happy holidays from the Golden LEAF Board and staff!

25th Anniversary

The Golden LEAF Foundation celebrated its 25th Anniversary this year with a new brand rollout, new website, and a celebration in conjunction with the annual Board meeting. Over 25 years, Golden LEAF has provided funding for projects resulting in more than 68,000 new jobs, $780 million in new payroll, and 98,000 workers trained across North Carolina. North Carolina leadership created the Golden LEAF Foundation more than two decades ago to increase economic opportunity in North Carolina’s rural, tobacco-dependent, and economically distressed communities through leadership in grantmaking, collaboration, innovation, and stewardship as an independent and perpetual foundation.

2024 Funding

In 2024, the Golden LEAF Board of Directors awarded funding totaling more than $136 million for 99 projects as follows: $53.8 million in funding to support 55 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. 

The Golden LEAF Board awarded funding to support several programs funded through state appropriations: $13.2 million in funding to support 18 Flood Mitigation Program projects; $360,700 in funding to support three Food Distribution Assistance Program projects; $8.5 million in funding to support seven Shell Building Pilot Program projects. 

Following Hurricane Helene, Golden LEAF quickly allocated $7.5 million dollars to Mountain BizWorks to establish the WNC Strong: Helene Business Recovery Fund. The General Assembly then appropriated $50 million dollars to meet the demand. The Golden LEAF Board also created a Hurricane Helene Disaster Relief Initiative, with funding to date totaling $3 million for 14 projects.

New Team Members

Six team members joined the Golden LEAF staff in 2024 to fill open positions and support the growth of the Foundation and its programs. Learn more about each of the new hires by clicking the links: Evan Benedict, Director of Grants Administration; Jacqueline Smith, Senior Program Officer; Elizabeth Bryant, Program Officer; Meaghan Malone, Digital Communications Specialist; Arianna Kidder, Data Manager; and Caty Gray Urquhart, Operations 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 welcomed a new Board member in 2024, Jarette Sampson. Read more about Golden LEAF’s Board meetings in the press releases below:

• February 2024
• April 2024
• June 2024
• August 2024
• October 2024
• December 2024

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 2024 Critical Conversations in the links below:

• January – Blake Brown, NCSU Hugh C. Kiger Professor of Agricultural and Resource Economics
• February – Doug Edgeton, NCBiotech President/CEO 
• March – Cecilia Holden, MyFutureNC President/CEO
• April – Reginald Speight, USDA-Rural Development State Director
• May – Thomas White, Economic Development Partnership Director
• June – Bill Aimutis, NC Food Innovation Lab Executive Director
• July – Alejandra Castillo, U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development
• August – Mike Arriola, US SBA District Director
• September – Laura Kilian, NC Ag Leads
• October – Katie Loovis, North Carolina Community Colleges Foundation Executive Director
• November – John Hardin, NC Office of Science, Technology and Innovation Executive Director
• December – Ralph Strayhorn, Golden LEAF Board Chair

Recently, Golden LEAF President, Chief Executive Officer Scott T. Hamilton sat down with the Chair of the Golden LEAF Board of Directors Ralph Strayhorn, via Zoom and filmed an episode of Critical Conversations. In this series, Scott talks with professionals about economic development issues affecting the state.

The Golden LEAF Foundation was established in 1999 to administer a portion of the tobacco settlement agreement monies back into North Carolina’s rural and economically distressed communities. Golden LEAF’s mission is to increase economic opportunity in North Carolina’s rural, tobacco-dependent, and economically distressed communities through leadership in grantmaking, collaboration, innovation, and stewardship as an independent and perpetual foundation.

Golden LEAF has provided lasting impact to tobacco-dependent, economically distressed, and rural areas of the state by helping create 68,000 jobs, $780 million in new payrolls, and more than 98,000 workers trained or retrained for higher wages. In its 25 years, Golden LEAF has funded 2,305 projects totaling $1.3 billion supporting the mission of advancing economic opportunity in North Carolina’s rural, tobacco-dependent, and economically distressed communities.

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.

For the past year, Mr. Strayhorn has served as the Golden LEAF Foundation Board Chair. Over his eight years of service, he has also served as the Chair of the Investment Committee. Mr. Strayhorn is from Durham County and currently is the Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board at New Republic Partners Inc. in Charlotte. He has a longstanding career in financial services.

Mr. Strayhorn shared that the diverse backgrounds and networks of the Board as well as the knowledge and relationships that the staff has built over time help Golden LEAF stay on top of what is going on within economic development across North Carolina. Mr. Strayhorn added that Golden LEAF provides funding a lot of infrastructure that is essential to help industry decide to locate in especially rural and economically distressed areas.

The strategic plan, according to Mr. Strayhorn, has helped Golden LEAF build out the strategies of its three priority areas: Job Creation and Economic Investment, Workforce Preparedness, and Agriculture. NC Ag Leads is a strategic planning effort that is underway to help build North Carolina’s agricultural sector. Golden LEAF is the primary funder of the initiative, and the idea of NC Ag Leads came out of a strategic planning session with the Golden LEAF Board, Strayhorn added. In the area of Workforce Preparedness, Mr. Strayhorn touted the Golden LEAF Scholarship Program that has provided over 22,000 rural students with scholarships to help them with post-secondary education. He added that the program is incredibly important to the success of our rural workforce. Mr. Strayhorn added that Golden LEAF works on Job Creation and Economic Investment in ways that other public funding organizations cannot. While we fund big job creation projects, our funding is for things like roadways or water and sewer.

To learn more about the Golden LEAF Foundation, visit GoldenLEAF.org.

ROCKY MOUNT, N.C., (December 5, 2024) – Yesterday, the Golden LEAF Board of Directors awarded a total of $2 million in funding to support workforce preparedness and job creation and economic investment projects. The Board awarded $378,200 to support three projects through the Open Grants Program and $1,549,400 to support two projects through the SITE Program.

Golden LEAF officially turned 25 on October 22nd. The Board celebrated Golden LEAF’s 25th Anniversary with highlights of the last 25 years of long-term economic development in conjunction with its annual meeting on December 4th.

“For 25 years, Golden LEAF has funded projects focused on some of the most critical issues facing our state’s rural communities including adapting and improving agricultural practices, boosting job creation opportunities in these regions, and preparing the local workforce for new industries and jobs,” said Ralph Strayhorn, Golden LEAF Board Chair. “We thank the leadership that had the forethought to create the Golden LEAF Foundation more than two decades ago to provide perpetual economic development support to our communities.”

Golden LEAF’s mission is to increase economic opportunity in North Carolina’s rural, tobacco-dependent, and economically distressed communities. Since 1999, Golden LEAF has awarded projects totaling more than $1.3 billion, helping to create 68,000 jobs, $780 million in new payroll, and more than 98,000 workers trained or retrained to earn higher wages.

“While we reflected on the impacts the Foundation has had on communities across the state, the Golden LEAF Board continues to focus on the development of innovative programs and initiatives to enhance job creation and economic investment, workforce preparedness, and agriculture that will continue to provide economic opportunity for the people of North Carolina.” said Scott T. Hamilton, Golden LEAF President, Chief Executive Officer. “I am proud the Golden LEAF Foundation will continue to partner with the many organizations dedicated to supporting the economic advancement of our state’s rural communities.”

The Golden LEAF Board also welcomed Jarette Sampson of Pembroke as the newest member of the Board at the December meeting. Mr. Sampson was appointed by the Speaker of the House. 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.

Through the Open Grants Program, the Golden LEAF Board of Directors awarded three projects totaling $378,200. These projects will support workforce preparedness and job creation and economic investment projects in Ashe, Avery, Beaufort, Buncombe, and Watauga counties.

• $67,200 to Caldwell Hospice and Palliative Care Inc. dba AMOREM for essential medical equipment necessary to establish a seven-bed patient care unit (PCU) aimed at serving the populations of Ashe, Avery, and Watauga counties. Establishing the PCU will not only expand hospice services for the High Country but will also generate 13.5 new healthcare positions for local individuals.
• $148,000 to the Center for Agricultural and Food Entrepreneurship Buncombe for on-site equipment for a manufacturing expansion at Blue Ridge Food Ventures, a shared-use facility located at the Enka Campus of Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College. It is expected that 25 new jobs will be created as a result of increases in manufacturing capacity and efficiency at the center.
• $163,000 to the Inner Banks STEM Center for HVAC and alarm systems, interior construction, furniture, and landscaping for a new, 13,000-square-foot Technology & Science Center at the Washington-Warren Airport Industrial Park.

The SITE Program offers resources to help communities identify potential sites for economic development, provides funding to complete due diligence on publicly controlled sites, and provides funding to extend public utilities to publicly controlled sites or to conduct clearing and rough grading of publicly owned sites. The three phases of the SITE Program are Identification, Due Diligence, and Development.

The Golden LEAF Foundation Board of Directors awarded more than $1.5 million in funding for two projects through the Golden LEAF SITE Program in Onslow and Robeson counties.

In the SITE Program – Due Diligence phase, the Golden LEAF Board awarded $49,400 to the Jacksonville-Onslow Economic Development Partnership in Onslow County to complete due diligence analyses of 46 acres at Corbett Ave and Belgrade-Swansboro Road in west Swansboro for a detailed wetland and stream delineation, boundary survey, geotechnical report, existing utilities capacity analysis statement, water system flow analysis, and existing utilities map.

For the SITE Program – Development, the Golden LEAF Board awarded $1,500,000 to Robeson County for clearing and grading, erosion control, adding backfill, and creating an access road for a site in the COMTech Business Park.

Since 1999 and including the awards announced today, Golden LEAF has funded 2,305 projects totaling $1.3 billion supporting the mission of advancing economic opportunity in North Carolina’s rural, tobacco-dependent, and economically distressed communities. 

About Golden LEAF

The Golden LEAF Foundation is a nonprofit organization established in 1999 to receive a portion of North Carolina’s funding 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.

The Foundation has provided lasting impact to tobacco-dependent, economically distressed, and rural areas of the state by helping create 68,000 jobs, more than $780 million in new payrolls, and more than 98,000 workers trained or retrained for higher wages.

For more information about Golden LEAF and our programs, please visit our website at GoldenLEAF.org.

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Recently, Golden LEAF President, Chief Executive Officer Scott T. Hamilton sat down with John Hardin, Executive Director of the North Carolina Office of Science, Technology, and Innovation in the NC Department of Commerce, via Zoom and filmed an episode of Critical Conversations. In this series, Scott talks with professionals about economic development issues affecting the state.

The Office of Science, Technology, and Innovation is a part of the North Carolina Department of Commerce. The North Carolina Board of Science, Technology, and Innovation advises and makes recommendations to the North Carolina Governor, General Assembly, Secretary of Commerce, and the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina on the role of science, technology and innovation in the economic growth and development of the state. 

The mission of the Office of Science, Technology, and Innovation is to improve the economic well‐being and quality of life of all North Carolinians through advancing science, technology, and innovation. To achieve this mission, the Office of Science, Technology, and Innovation develops and administers policies and programs that accelerate both the development of next-generation technology companies and the adoption of technology across existing industry. It also staffs the 25-member Board of Science, Technology and Innovation, appointed by the Governor and General Assembly.

Since the inception of the Office of Science, Technology, and Innovation in 1963, the Board and the staff have worked on several data-driven strategies, said Hardin. One of the more known strategic plans of the Office of Science, Technology, and Innovation was called Vision 2030. Over several years, the Office held focus groups around economic needs. The plan was shelved because of changing administrations. It was since picked back up and work has begun on enacting Vision 2030. Tracking Innovation is a statistical report card of all the innovation economy of North Carolina. They are measuring 42 different measures related to innovation that are happening across the state.

The Office of Science, Technology and Innovation has a number of programs and initiatives. There are Tracking Innovation reports, grant programs, Innovation Hubs, and a focus on Defense Innovation. Two federal programs called the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and the Small Business Technology Transfer Research (SBTTR) are an important source of early-stage technology funding for small businesses to help R&D-focused entrepreneurs and advanced research and development in a wide variety of technology areas. Hardin said when he came on the team in 2003, North Carolina did not seem to be achieving an appropriate level of federal funding to help these technology focused businesses. The Office of Science, Technology and Innovation then proposed and received funding for the One North Carolina Small Business Program through the legislature, explained Hardin. The One North Carolina Small Business Program has been operational since 2006 to provide matching funding to get the small businesses. Over 600 grants have been awarded. These companies have created and retained around 1,500 jobs because of the program.

Hardin said there are many opportunities in rural areas that may not be in urban areas for companies focused on science, technology, and innovation. He said the rural areas are less expensive to locate in, have less traffic to navigate, and the competition is less in a rural area. Hardin also stated that the State has programs in place to help companies expand into rural areas. He added that the programs through the Office of Science, Technology and Innovation, provide rural companies a higher ranking for the funding. In other State-supported programs, more funding is available for companies locating or expanding in rural areas.

Learn more about the North Carolina Office of Science, Technology and Innovation.

Recently, Golden LEAF President, Chief Executive Officer Scott T. Hamilton sat down with Katie Loovis Executive Director of the North Carolina Community Colleges Foundation via Zoom and filmed an episode of Critical Conversations. In this series, Scott talks with professionals about economic development issues affecting the state.

The North Carolina Community Colleges Foundation is a nonprofit organization founded in 1986 to support the mission of the NC Community College System. The Foundation stewards the endowment, manages several scholarships and awards that honor excellence, raises awareness and funds to advance the System’s impact, and supports public-private partnership programs that spark innovation.

With 20 years of experience with executive leadership and management in government, business, and nonprofit sectors, including roles at The White House, GlaxoSmithKline, and Achieving the Dream along with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Loovis became the first president of the North Carolina Community Colleges Foundation in June 2023.

Although the North Carolina Community Colleges Foundation has been around since 1986, the NC Community Colleges Foundation Board decided to hire its first executive director. Loovis said the Community College System staff had previously managed the Foundation but the Board decided they needed more direct focus on the Foundation. She added that North Carolina is first in business in the nation and part of the mission of the Community Colleges is to make sure North Carolinians fill the jobs. Loovis said that she is working with the Board on a major campaign, including a strategic plan and capacity building for the Foundation.

The North Carolina Community College System consists of 58 colleges. Every resident in North Carolina lives within 30 miles of a community college. Loovis said that the Foundation’s job is to support the System and the colleges it serves. She said all 58 colleges have an independent foundation. The foundations have a shared vision and work together. The individual foundations add tremendous value at the local and regional level. Loovis added that the college foundations and the System foundation really work together and try not to overstep each other.

Hamilton asked Loovis how the North Carolina Community Colleges Foundation is responding to the aftermath of Tropical Storm Helene. Loovis said that 26 counties and a tribal area were impacted in western North Carolina. She added that 14 community colleges in that area were affected including over 6,000 staff and 74,000 students.

Examples of how the North Carolina Community College System’s colleges are responding include Blue Ridge Community College has set up a “tent city” to house and feed federal workers for the next three months that they are working in the area. Loovis said the County is using one of Blue Ridge Community College’s buildings to coordinate volunteer deployment. She added that Blue Ridge Community College’s fire training center is being used to assist in search and rescue. Loovis said that when we talk about Community Colleges we lead with community. She added that this is only one college’s response to the devastation in the west. Many are providing support to the community and region.

Loovis said that a statewide Hurricane Helene Community College Response and Recovery Fund has been set up through NCCCF.org. Each college in the affected areas are also receiving funds through their foundations. She added that President of the North Carolina Community College System Jeff Cox is managing the North Carolina Community Colleges Foundation funding for needs specified by the individual colleges.

Other funding to support students can be accessed by reaching out to the individual colleges’ financial aid offices, said Hamilton. For example, Golden LEAF provides funding for scholarships at community colleges. The financial aid office can provide students with how to apply for the Golden LEAF Community Colleges Scholarship as well as other financial need assistance.

The North Carolina Community Colleges Foundation empowers the community colleges, said Loovis. One of the exciting strategies that the North Carolina Community College System is working on is called Propel NC. She said the focus of Propel NC is to get more skilled workers to fill positions that are in high demand. Propel NC is a funding model that will help modernize the way the community college system operates, providing a fast track for students into most demand career pathways.

To learn more about the NC Community Colleges Foundation, visit NCCCF.org.

ROCKY MOUNT, N.C., (October 3, 2024) – Today, the Golden LEAF Board of Directors awarded a total of $18.6 million in funding to support workforce preparedness, job creation and economic investment, agriculture, scholarships, and food distribution assistance. The Board awarded $13,000,000 to support a project through the Economic Catalyst Program, $2,267,634 to support six projects through the Open Grants Program, and $297,154 in increased funding for the Food Distribution Assistance Program. The Golden LEAF Board also approved $3,116,173 in funding for the North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority to administer the Golden LEAF Colleges and Universities Scholarship. 

Golden LEAF Board member Johnathan Rhyne of Blowing Rock announced his intention not to seek another term on the Golden LEAF Board after his term expires in November. Mr. Rhyne was appointed to the Golden LEAF Board of Directors in 2012.

“We would like to thank Johnathan Rhyne for his 12 years of service on the Golden LEAF Board of Directors,” said Ralph Strayhorn, Golden LEAF Board Chair. “Johnathan has served as our Board Chair, Treasurer, Secretary, and Assistant Secretary and has been an invaluable member of the Board. His commitment to the mission and expertise will be missed.”

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 Golden LEAF Board of Directors awarded $13 million to Wilson Community College for training equipment that will be used to support the location of a major biomedical manufacturing company, Johnson & Johnson, in Wilson County. The State has appropriated $30 million for the training center. Johnson & Johnson will create 420 quality jobs, paying an average annual wage of over $108,000 and make a capital investment of over $1 billion.

“The Golden LEAF Board was proud to provide funding for the training center operated by Wilson Community College,” said Golden LEAF President, Chief Executive Officer Scott T. Hamilton. “The center will provide the knowledge and skills needed to work for Johnson & Johnson and other employers in the region. This announcement is a major win for eastern North Carolina.”

Additionally, the North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority was awarded $3,116,173 by the Golden LEAF Board to administer the Golden LEAF Colleges and Universities Scholarship. This award will support 215 new scholarships and 600 renewal scholarships. Golden LEAF scholarship recipients are eligible for up to $3,500 per year.

The Golden LEAF Board of Directors awarded six projects totaling $2,267,634 in Open Grants Program funding. These projects will support workforce preparedness projects in Brunswick, Clay, Cherokee, Edgecombe, Graham, Greene, Hyde, Nash, Jackson, Tyrrell, and Washington counties, and an agriculture project in Pitt and surrounding counties.

• $175,000 to Christian Recovery Centers in Brunswick County for property upfit, to purchase utility and transport vehicles and supplies, and for advertising that will support the establishment of a property maintenance and remodeling social enterprise in response to the surging residential development in Brunswick and surrounding counties.
• $500,000 to the Eastern North Carolina Food Commercialization Center in Pitt County to support the acquisition of processing equipment for its value-added food production center in Ayden.
• $499,708 to Greene County Schools for construction of a horticultural building and for equipment to expand the animal sciences, agriculture sciences, and auto mechanics Career and Technical Education programs at Greene Central High School.
• $115,000 to the Health Education Foundation of Eastern North Carolina in Nash County for staffing, mentors, and outreach/marketing to support the expansion of the Young Civic Leaders initiative which is managed by the Rural Opportunities Institute.
• $477,926 to HIGHTS in Jackson County for personnel, travel, paid work-based learning experiences, and other participant support services for a new workforce project, Career Connect, for vulnerable youth in Clay, Cherokee, and Graham counties and the Qualla Boundary. 
• $500,000 to Washington County Schools for equipment, supplies, student transportation, instructional resources, professional development, and renovations to establish the Hyde, Tyrrell, Washington Career Tech Innovation Center at the Washington County Early College High School in Creswell.

The State of North Carolina previously appropriated $10 million to Golden LEAF for the Food Distribution Assistance Program. This program is funded by federal State Fiscal Recovery Funds through the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Funds may be used for grants to nonprofit organizations to assist organizations in becoming eligible to be partner agencies of a North Carolina food bank or enhancing or expanding the capacity of current partner agencies of North Carolina food banks. Funds may also be used for grants to nonprofit organizations to assist organizations in establishing a school-based weekend food assistance program or enhancing or expanding the capacity of current school-based weekend food assistance programs.

The Golden LEAF Board approved $297,154 in additional Food Distribution Assistance Program funding to support 11 existing projects in Greene, Buncombe, Chatham, Catawba, Harnett, Macon, Durham, Cabarrus, Vance, Wake, and Wilson counties. Click here for information on the organizations that received increased Food Distribution Assistance Program funding.

Since 1999, Golden LEAF has funded 2,300 projects totaling $1.3 billion supporting the mission of advancing economic opportunity in North Carolina’s rural, tobacco-dependent, and economically distressed communities. 

About Golden LEAF

The Golden LEAF Foundation is a nonprofit organization established in 1999 to receive a portion of North Carolina’s funding 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.

The Foundation has provided lasting impact to tobacco-dependent, economically distressed, and rural areas of the state by helping create 68,000 jobs, more than $780 million in new payrolls, and more than 98,000 workers trained or retrained for higher wages.

For more information about Golden LEAF and our programs, please visit our website at GoldenLEAF.org.

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