CommWell Health of Newton Grove/Spivey’s Corner has completed a major renovation and reconfiguration of its healthcare facility in Sampson County in time for its 50th anniversary. The updated campus strengthens access to primary care, dental, and behavioral health services for residents in this rural community while creating new jobs in the healthcare field.
When Hurricane Helene devastated Western North Carolina, the Baptists on Mission organization was ready to respond. The organization mobilized thousands of volunteers to help families recover and rebuild.
With support from $2.94 million in funding from the Golden LEAF Foundation, the Baptists on Mission organization has already helped 521 families return home and has another 240 homes currently under repair. More than 1,300 applications for assistance have been received to date, underscoring the long road to recovery ahead.
Food hubs in both Eastern and Western North Carolina are working to grow their reach, support more farmers, and increase access to local food thanks in part to strategic funding from the Golden LEAF Foundation.
Across Southeastern North Carolina, Feast Down East is scaling its operations to meet rising demand from farmers and buyers. The Golden LEAF Foundation Board of Directors awarded Feast Down East $250,000 through the Open Grants Program to increase refrigeration and storage capacity at its Burgaw food hub and Wilmington satellite location.
The horticultural industry in Western North Carolina is booming, driving both economic growth and workforce demand. To meet this need, the Golden LEAF Foundation has funded projects to help with both the training and infrastructure required to prepare the next generation of skilled professionals to strengthen the state’s number one industry, agriculture.
The North Carolina General Assembly appropriated $10 million to the Golden LEAF Foundation for the Food Distribution Assistance Program, a one-time initiative to strengthen the state’s food distribution network. Funded by federal State Fiscal Recovery Funds through the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the program was designed to expand the capacity of nonprofits working alongside food banks to address food insecurity.
What started as a vision to boost the economy in the rural town of Aurora has resulted in a new industrial park with jobs on the way.
On June 19, the Town of Aurora and Beaufort County Community College broke ground on the Aurora Industrial Park and the college’s only satellite campus, which will be located within the park.
Robust infrastructure is the backbone of thriving communities. Roads, water and sewer systems, and wastewater are essential to attract new businesses, support job growth, and improve the quality of life for residents. Aging or insufficient infrastructure creates major barriers to economic development.
At a time when North Carolina’s employers are facing critical workforce shortages, Rockingham County is rising to the challenge. Golden LEAF is backing a powerful, community-led solution that connects students to career pathways and strengthens the region’s economy by building strong local roots.
In February 2025, the Golden LEAF Board of Directors awarded more than $1.2 million in total funding to Cleveland County Schools, Cleveland Community College, and Gardner-Webb University to establish a new Healthcare Educational Pathway to expand access to the field, build local talent, and strengthen the healthcare workforce in the region.
North Carolina’s number one industry is agriculture and agribusiness. Golden LEAF focuses on agriculture as an economic development engine. One of the outcomes Golden LEAF measures in its agriculture priority is value-added agricultural enterprises.
