At the December meeting, 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 for two projects through the SITE Program.
On November 15, 2024 the Golden LEAF Foundation welcomed new Digital Communications Specialist Meaghan Malone.
“We are excited for Meaghan to join the team to help carry out the mission of Golden LEAF,” said Scott T. Hamilton, Golden LEAF President, Chief Executive Officer. “Meaghan’s skills and expertise will be an asset to the Foundation’s External Affairs goals.”
I am responsible for managing development and dissemination of content on Golden LEAF’s website, social media platforms and newsletters. I also manage the internship program at Golden LEAF, serve as the media contact, and am the liaison for the Board of Directors.
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.
Happy Thanksgiving! In this edition of our Golden LEAF newsletter, I am sharing some of the reasons I am thankful this year. November marked my fifth anniversary as president of Golden LEAF, and in October, Golden LEAF hit 25 years!
I am grateful for the work of rural communities that are developing and implementing economic development strategies, humbled that Golden LEAF was asked to assist with efforts that will help with resilience for years into the future, and excited to reflect on the impact that Golden LEAF has accomplished over the last 25 years.
Hurricane Helene ravaged the western part of North Carolina in September. Golden LEAF has been working on its response to support the relief and recovery of Western North Carolina.
In October, the Golden LEAF Board of Directors awarded $7.5 million to support WNC Strong: Helene Business Recovery Fund, which provides rapid recovery loans to small businesses suffering economic losses related to the impacts of Hurricane Helene. The fund is administered by Mountain BizWorks. In October, the Golden LEAF Foundation was appropriated $50 million by the North Carolina General Assembly to support business recovery loans. Golden LEAF then awarded $50 million to Mountain BizWorks to enhance the support of WNC Strong: Helene Business Recovery Fund.
In September, multiple entities focused on education and the workforce came together to host regional forums about how generative AI and other technological advancements are changing the way people work and learn. Golden LEAF staff was invited to participate in the forums.
The purpose of the forums was to understand why a change in learning related to AI and other technology matters, what it means for the state and region, and how leaders can work together to navigate the challenges and opportunities ahead.
My job as a program officer is reviewing applications and providing oversight to awarded projects. I primarily work on projects that involve construction. These projects can vary from clearing and grading to expansion or building of new facilities and water or wastewater utilities.
On October 3, 2024, the Golden LEAF Board of Directors awarded $13 million through Golden LEAF’s Economic Catalyst Program 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.
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.
Wilkes County in collaboration with Wilkes Economic Development Corporation, is the first county in North Carolina to receive funding for all three Golden LEAF SITE Program phases. Between the Identification, Due Diligence, and Development awards, Wilkes County has received $1,565,000 in support from the SITE Program.
The goal of the SITE Program is to support communities in North Carolina in identifying potential industrial sites for economic development, enabling the completion of due diligence on industrial sites already identified, extending public utilities to, and conducting grading and clearing of industrial sites for which due diligence has been completed.
