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.

“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.”

The planned opening of the new biotechnology workforce training center is in June 2026. The State of North Carolina also appropriated $30 million in total funding for the center.

“Wilson Community College is honored to have been selected for this award,” said President Jami Woods. “This investment from the Golden LEAF Foundation will provide state-of-the-art equipment to ensure that the biologics training center will offer a wide and diverse range of training and education.”

Along with Johnson & Johnson, there have been announcements from other major pharmaceutical companies that they will be locating in Wilson.

“The new center further increases our capacity to prepare a workforce that will serve the ever-expanding life sciences sector in the eastern region of North Carolina,” said Wood. “We are extremely grateful to the Golden LEAF Foundation for supporting Wilson Community College and the region.”

Through the Economic Catalyst Program, Golden LEAF considers applications to assist eligible state, regional, and local economic development entities with funding to support permissible activities in projects in which a company will commit to creating a specific number of full-time jobs in a tobacco-dependent or economically distressed area. Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact Golden LEAF staff to discuss the potential projects and conditions that may be applicable prior to submitting an application.

Learn more about the Economic Catalyst Program.

 

By Katie Fisher, Golden LEAF Program Officer

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.

The SITE Program has supported 56 projects in 41 counties.

In an interview with Wilkes EDC staff, President LeeAnn Nixon and Vice President Robin Hamby shared their experiences with the three phases of the SITE Program.

“The SITE Program allowed us to create momentum for the Wilkes Industrial Park,” said Nixon. “The funding we were awarded and staff support at Golden LEAF were phenomenal.”

Wilkes EDC’s first award was for SITE Identification in June 2022. The Identification award provided a county-wide evaluation of possible industrial development sites. Any recipient of a SITE Identification award will collaborate with Golden LEAF staff and site development consultants to evaluate the community’s industrial site development possibilities. The consultants identify exploration zones that Golden LEAF staff and consultants visit with the funding recipient.

“It was wonderful to have the guidance of the team that Golden LEAF put together for the SITE Identification project,” said Hamby. “We needed expert opinions, and we appreciated the “boots on the ground” approach in how they toured our county in person.”

After each visit, the SITE consultants produce a report in a presentation format. The report highlights recommendations regarding specific development strategies, identifying sites that merit future evaluations, and lists the strengths and weaknesses of each potential site along with a timeframe for development.

“One highlight for us with the SITE Program is how the site consultants looked at our assets completely differently than we would,” said Hamby. “They shared that our top priority should be the Wilkes Industrial Park.  The Town of North Wilkesboro purchased that property in the 90s and had stalled due to a lack of infrastructure. The SITE Identification presentation described this area as a very promising opportunity for site development.”

Economic development is a team sport. Counties have multiple partners that must be on board for economic development to proceed.

“The SITE Identification presentation was instrumental in positively influencing local leadership,” said Nixon. “It was the tool we needed that gave local leadership the confidence in Wilkes EDC, to continue investing in the property that became the Wilkes Industrial Park.”

After completing the SITE Identification project, Wilkes EDC staff applied for and received a SITE Due Diligence award for $50,000 in June 2023. SITE Due Diligence provides up to $50,000 to conduct specific due diligence reports related to zoning, land use and property control, environmental considerations, site features, and utilities. These reports can cover an entire industrial park or just a potential site. The Due Diligence award is used to assist local leaders in hiring third-party professionals to provide detailed assessments of a particular area.

“The SITE Due Diligence award really helped us with the property,” said Nixon. “Our procured engineer’s analysis of the Buildable Area Map helped us create our master plan for industrial growth in the region. The map was a powerful visual, highlighting the opportunity for Wilkes Industrial Park.” The SITE program activity and buildable area map has created more interest from businesses and potential projects are being explored.  

One year later, in June 2024, Wilkes EDC secured an additional $1,500,000 in SITE Development funding for a 22-acre parcel within the Wilkes Industrial Park to clear and grade the property. In addition to Golden LEAF funds, the Town of North Wilkesboro plans to contribute $286,300 for a sewer extension to the site.

SITE Development is focused on one industrial site and can extend public utilities to the site, clear and grade land, create a stubbed road for access, and/or remediate environmental conditions. Each SITE Development project can request up to $1,500,000. 

Wilkes EDC staff shared how the SITE Program helped local leadership have confidence with the industrial site project.

“It was the collaboration with Golden LEAF that allowed us to generate a local match for our SITE Development project,” said Hamby.

Wilkes County in collaboration with Wilkes EDC expects to break ground in February 2025 and complete construction in January 2026. Upon the completion of the SITE Development project, Wilkes EDC intends to construct a shell building on the site upon identifying and securing additional sources of funding.

We are grateful for Golden LEAF’s confidence in us,” said Nixon. “We will deliver what we commit to, and together, we are growing the workforce, the job opportunities, and the economy in our community.”

For more information on the SITE Program, visit GoldenLEAF.org/site.

 

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.

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.

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. 

 

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.

 

By Food Distribution Assistance Program Manager, Meredith Bell 

The 2021 state budget appropriated $10 million to the Golden LEAF Foundation 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. To date, Golden LEAF has awarded $8.9 million to support 67 projects from 48 counties. Although the application period is closed, Golden LEAF is working to distribute all funds available in the program.

Through this program funding may be used for the following: 

• Grants to nonprofit organizations to assist those organizations in (i) becoming eligible to be partner agencies of a North Carolina food bank or (ii) enhancing or expanding the capacity of current partner agencies of North Carolina food banks.
• Grants to nonprofit organizations to assist those organizations in (i) establishing a school-based weekend food assistance program or (ii) enhancing or expanding the capacity of current school-based weekend food assistance programs.
• Food Distribution Assistance Program funds are used to address a clearly defined gap in existing food assistance networks.

The Open Door Food Pantry of Perquimans County first opened its doors in January 1980. They are now in their 44th year of service to the residents of Perquimans County. Open Door Food Pantry of Perquimans County was awarded $97,775 by the Golden LEAF Board of Directors through the Food Distribution Assistance Program at the August 2023 meeting. The funding helped Open Door Food Pantry acquire freezer units with glass doors, refrigerator units with glass doors, a produce display case, pantry shelving, bread display shelving, lighting, condensing units for coolers and freezers, a low profile floor scale, two scale ramps, three utility carts and also the installation of data equipment needed to enhance and expand food distribution efforts.

Learn more about what the Open Door Food Pantry is accomplishing with Food Distribution Assistance Program funding in the Q&A with Dina Hurdle, Chair of the Open Door Board of Directors below:

What services do you provide to the community and who do you serve?
We assist individuals in Perquimans County who are facing difficulties and are food insecure. Our provisions include non-perishable food items, fresh produce, personal care products, and monthly recipe meal kits. Additionally, we sometimes receive donations of various items like towels, socks, and newborn essentials, which include diapers and other necessities for infants.

Prior to opening your new facility, where and how were you distributing food?
Before relocating to our new site in January 2024, our previous location was just a few miles away. Due to space constraints, we served our neighbors directly in their vehicles. The food provided was packaged by our volunteers, based on household size.

How has the new facility changed how you operate? Has it enabled you to do things you could not do in the previous location?
Previously, we operated from a smaller facility of 1500 square feet, but we have now moved into a newly renovated 3200 square foot space. This expansion was made possible when our board recognized the need for more room to enhance our community services. In 2022, we acquired an old restaurant and, with support from the community, grants, and local and state partners, we transformed it into our first owned property after years of renting.

This new space has enabled us to evolve into a choice pantry, utilizing a color-coded SWAP system (Supporting Wellness at Pantries) that mimics the layout of a grocery store. This allows the families we serve to select food that they will consume, reducing waste and costs. Volunteers assist them in choosing healthier options, as all items are categorized by their nutritional value, focusing on added sugars, saturated fats, and sodium content. This service is free for the families and offers them the dignity of choice, while also enabling us to focus our food purchasing decisions based on their preferences.

We prioritize healthier food options, emphasizing proteins, fresh vegetables, and fruits. We provide “Bagley’s Recipes”—healthy food bags containing a nutritious recipe and the ingredients for a side, main, snack, or dessert. The main ingredient is always available in our pantry. These recipes are prepared and sampled during our opening hours once a month.

Moreover, our facility now hosts community health partners, the local extension office, and others to conduct classes, wellness checks, and sessions that benefit our community. We are also planning to offer nutritional cooking classes to enhance our neighbors’ well-being. This summer, these classes, using our mobile teaching kitchen, will be held off site and will focus on teaching elementary aged children.

How many new people or households have you been able to serve since opening the new building?
Comparing the first quarter of 2023 at our previous location with the first quarter of 2024 at our new location, we have observed a 114% increase in the number of households served and a 63% increase in the number of individuals served. Since opening the new site in 2024 and serving neighbors January through August, the pantry has provided assistance to 1,648 households and 3,949 individuals. 

How can people contact you if they need food assistance or to volunteer or get involved?
We currently have over 90 volunteers, yet we are always delighted to welcome more as we operate entirely on volunteer efforts. This number does not include our Board of Directors members. Our website, www.perquimansopendoor.com, provides links to both our volunteer and neighbor applications.

Our operational hours are Mondays and Wednesdays from 10 am to 12 pm, and Thursdays from 4 pm to 6 pm. The Open Door of Perquimans County, Inc., which also operates as “The Open Door Food Pantry of Perquimans County,” is located at 293 Creek Drive, Hertford, NC 27944. Our office phone number is 252-421-3700.

 

On October 7th, 2024 the Golden LEAF Foundation welcomed new Data Manager Arianna Kidder.

“We are excited for Arianna to join the team to help carry out the mission of Golden LEAF,” said Scott T. Hamilton, Golden LEAF President, Chief Executive Officer. “Arianna’s skills and expertise in data management will be an asset to the Foundation’s work.”

In her role, Kidder will support the management of Golden LEAF’s grant award data and scholarship program data. As data manager she will also ensure accuracy and reliability of the information for outreach, reporting, and programmatic initiatives across various platforms.

Prior to Golden LEAF, Kidder began her career as a high school teacher in Atlanta, as a Teach for America Corps Member. She spent many years helping schools and other non-profit organizations in leveraging their data for strategic decision-making and transformative impact. 

Kidder holds a bachelor’s degree in Global Development Studies and Economics from the University of Virginia, and a master’s degree in International Educational Development from the University of Pennsylvania.

A California native, Kidder currently lives in Raleigh with her husband and son.

 

Name: Emma Godwin
County from: Wilson
Current College/ Years Attended: East Carolina University (2021-2025)
Major: Communications, Public Relations
Minor: Hospitality Management 

Follow Emma on LinkedIn by clicking here.

What does it mean to you to serve as an intern at Golden LEAF?
To serve as a Golden LEAF intern means participating in giving back to rural, tobacco dependent counties like the one I come from. Growing up in a tobacco dependent county with my father’s family having roots in tobacco farming, I knew I wanted to be a part of an organization that gave back to communities like mine. I think it is important to be a part of an organization that improves the lives of North Carolinians who are in economically distressed parts of the state. 

What have you learned that you didn’t think would be a part of internship work?
Some things I have learned that I didn’t think would be a part of the internship work is researching articles written about Golden LEAF and seeing the specific funding that contributes to the progression of workforce preparedness and economic growth. 

What are some of your favorite things you do as an intern at Golden LEAF?
One of my favorite things I do as an intern is writing articles for newsletters and social media. I am gaining practical experience writing for an organization which will benefit my future career goals. I also like learning about how Golden LEAF has done so much for their scholars and counties they serve.

Describe Golden LEAF in three words.
Passionate. Benevolent. Honorable.

What type of work do you want to do after your internship?
After my internship, I would like to do work in publicity and help organizations manage their brand. Helping individuals or organizations is a strong passion of mine. I’m excited to use my skills in PR to help organizations share their good work with their audiences.

Would you like to share any words of advice for prospective interns?
Keep your head up and your eyes open. Everyone at the foundation wants you to succeed and are always open to lending a hand. This internship will teach you multiple skills, help you progress in your future career and provide networking opportunities that are invaluable.

 

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 Opportunity 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.

Contact:

Jenny Tinklepaugh
Communications and External Affairs Manager
[email protected]
252.801.1370

 

Scott T. Hamilton Golden LEAF President, Chief Executive Officer; Ted Lord, Senior Vice President/General Counsel; and other Golden LEAF staff will attend the annual NC Chamber Ag Allies Conference on October 11 from 8 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. at the McKimmon Conference & Training Center in Raleigh. The Ag Allies Conference serves as a critical forum for leaders in agriculture to come together and address the key challenges and opportunities facing the agriculture industry today.

“With North Carolina’s agriculture sector contributing $111 billion annually to the state’s economy and providing jobs for 16% of the workforce, this conference helps ensure that the sector remains a pillar of our state’s success,” said Ray Starling, NC Chamber General Counsel and President of the NC Chamber Legal Institute. “The event brings experts, policymakers, and industry trailblazers to explore how to adapt to workforce changes, technological advancements, and evolving regulations that will shape the future of agriculture in North Carolina.”

This year, the keynote speaker will be Melissa San Miguel, the President of Red Flag USA and Executive Director of Washington International Business Council. The conference offers several panels, a policy outlook, the keynote presentation, and essential time to network.

“Attending the NC Chamber Ag Allies Conference is an opportunity to engage with the thought leaders who are driving the next generation of agriculture,” said Starling. “You will gain firsthand insights into the latest economic trends and technological innovations, hear directly from industry leaders about the future of food and farming, and learn about how North Carolina is positioning itself as a global leader in agriculture. By attending, you’ll have the chance to connect with peers and exchange ideas on how to ensure the continued growth and sustainability of this vital industry.”

Golden LEAF officials are attending to keep abreast of the agriculture economic landscape. One of Golden LEAF’s priorities is Agriculture. Golden LEAF supports agriculture projects as an economic development engine. Golden LEAF grants for agriculture projects have supported the development of new crops, expanded markets for agriculture products, scientific research, training for farmers, cost-effective techniques and value-added agricultural enterprises.

Last year, when Hamilton attended the NC Chamber Ag Allies Conference, the keynote presentation came from Aidan Connolly, President, AgriTech Capital, based in Wilmington. Hamilton shared after the 2023 conference in a newsletter article that Connolly presented the staggering numbers of needing 70% more food and protein by 2050. He added that the world’s population has nearly doubled since 1970 and is headed toward 10 billion by 2050.

“The information you receive at the conference is valuable to anyone involved in or impacted by North Carolina’s agribusiness sector,” said Hamilton. “We attend to listen and learn more about agriculture, agribusiness, food production, agricultural technology, and policy. Our team also finds the networking opportunity helpful to leverage first-hand knowledge about the challenges and opportunities in the industry to advance the economy through our funding opportunities.”

Information about NC Ag Allies including the agenda and how to register, can be found here.

 

Recently, Golden LEAF President, Chief Executive Officer Scott T. Hamilton sat down with Laura Kilian, NC Ag Leads staff and Associate State Legislative Director at NC Farm Bureau via Zoom and filmed an episode of Critical Conversations. In this series, Scott talks with professionals about economic development issues affecting the state.