This year, the Golden LEAF Foundation Board adopted a long-term strategic plan to serve as a roadmap for the next few years. During the process, Golden LEAF fine-tuned its priority areas and created goals for each of these areas. Golden LEAF’s five strategic priority areas are: Job Creation and Economic… read more
The healthcare industry remains a major economic engine in rural, tobacco-dependent, and economically distressed communities. The Golden LEAF Foundation supports the healthcare industry by funding projects that directly lead to the creation of new jobs with the expansion of services. The unexpected closing in 2015 of Franklin County’s only hospital… read more
Snowbird Wilderness Outfitters, a summer camp and conference center located in rural Cherokee County, is working on an expansion thanks to moving from septic to the Town of Andrews’ sewer system. In February 2018, the Golden LEAF Foundation Board of Directors awarded $200,000 to the Town of Andrews to extend… read more
When GF Linamar, a light metal foundry, was looking for a place to locate, Blue Ridge Community College provided all the right tools to help the company have a skilled pipeline to fill its workforce needs. To date, GF Linamar has hired 308 employees from Henderson County and the surrounding… read more
A unique coworking and entrepreneurial space called the Gig East Exchange has helped businesses grow in the City of Wilson even during the pandemic, creating 36 jobs through innovation and entrepreneurship. “Right now, we have all but two of the offices leased out,” said Will Aycock, general manager of Greenlight,… read more
Mako Medical Laboratories, a medical testing company, is one of the first companies from Raleigh to expand to Vance County. Not only has it survived in the pandemic, but it has thrived. To date, Mako Medical has surpassed their goal of creating 153 jobs with an average wage above the… read more
ABC of NC is one of only a handful of comprehensive autism service providers in North Carolina. With autism prevalence rates rising more than 120% since 2000 and increased coverage of intensive autism therapies by some insurance providers and Medicaid, the demand for autism services is steadily increasing. In April… read more
Access to essential health services is critical for rural communities, especially during a pandemic. Health care not only keeps the local workforce healthy, but often serves as an anchor in the community as an employer. In the Woodland area of rural Northampton County, healthcare officials had to get creative to… read more
The COVID-19 pandemic is more than just a health crisis, it is an economic crisis. The good news is many businesses have used available resources and creative solutions to remain operational during the pandemic. Prior to the pandemic’s impact in North Carolina, Golden LEAF had been working with rural communities… read more
An apprenticeship is a program that trains a worker to become skilled in a particular trade. Apprenticeships combine hands-on work with classroom learning to provide a complete set of skills that enables the apprentice to quickly enter the workforce. In honor of National Apprenticeship Week, the Golden LEAF Foundation has… read more
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