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.  

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 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.

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.”

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. 

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. 

By Emma Godwin, Golden LEAF External Affairs Intern Golden LEAF Scholar and Wayne County native, Macy Parkhurst was born and raised in Pikeville with a

By Golden LEAF External Affairs Intern, Emilly Hernandez-Rivera Golden LEAF Scholar Lyric Locklear of Robeson County is a senior at the University of North Carolina