Housing has become one of the most significant challenges facing communities across North Carolina. As employers expand their operations and the state’s population continues to grow, many rural communities are struggling to provide housing for teachers, healthcare workers, first responders, manufacturing employees, and other essential workers.
Across North Carolina, one of the issues that continues to surface in conversations with local leaders, employers, and economic developers is workforce housing. In the latest episode of Golden LEAF Critical Conversations, we discussed how partnerships are creating workforce housing solutions.
The latest episode of Golden LEAF Critical Conversations with President, Chief Executive Officer Scott T. Hamilton explores one of the most significant challenges facing North Carolina agriculture: the loss of farmland and what it means for the state’s economy, food systems, and future growth.
The latest episode of Golden LEAF Critical Conversations with President, Chief Executive Officer Scott T. Hamilton explores how North Carolina rural middle schools participating in the Golden LEAF Schools Initiative are rethinking education to better prepare students for high school, careers, and the workforce of the future.
Serving as an intern at Golden LEAF means supporting my past without compromising on my future. Coming from a small town, I was under the impression that my opportunities were limited unless I left for highly urban areas or an entirely different state. My experience at the Golden LEAF Foundation has helped me realize the breadth of opportunities I’ll have at home; staying in a rural area no longer felt like it was a full stop on my life trajectory, but instead a steady pace towards the next chapter of my life.
The latest episode of Golden LEAF Critical Conversations with Scott T. Hamilton, the Foundation’s President and CEO, brings together three leaders driving economic development across North Carolina to answer a critical question: What does it really take to attract new industry to a community?
The latest episode of Golden LEAF Critical Conversations with Scott Hamilton features three voices shaping the future of North Carolina agriculture. They answer the question: What happens when scientists, extension specialists, and farmers tackle agriculture’s toughest challenges together?
North Carolina agriculture remains one of the state’s greatest economic strengths. According to the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the industry generates more than $100 billion in economic impact each year, supporting farmers, agribusinesses, researchers, and rural communities across the state.
North Carolina’s community colleges are using creative strategies to recruit career and technical instructional roles. Golden LEAF Programs staff see firsthand these real challenges in the workforce preparedness projects they manage. Whether the Golden LEAF funds awarded support a new advanced manufacturing lab, a nursing expansion, or a skilled trades facility, one reality consistently surfaces: buildings and equipment are only part of the equation. Qualified instructors are often the critical ingredient.
What happens when opportunity meets rural community pride? In this episode of Golden LEAF Critical Conversations, host Scott T. Hamilton talks with a current Golden LEAF Scholar, a Scholar Alumna, and an internship site host to show exactly how the Golden LEAF Scholarship and Golden LEAF Rural Internship Initiative change lives and shapes communities across North Carolina.
