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 October, the Golden LEAF Board also established a Hurricane Helene Relief initiative. Funds are available to organizations to support immediate relief for individuals and families including home repair, addressing unmet needs, and helping transition out of FEMA supported housing programs. Governmental entities and 501(c)(3) nonprofits are eligible to apply for Hurricane Helene Relief funds. In November, the Golden LEAF Board met in two special meetings to award $2,757,654 in funding to support 11 Hurricane Helene Relief projects.

Learn more about Golden LEAF Hurricane Helene Relief awards below:

• $100,000 to Camp Grier for staff salaries, utilities, food/meal expenses to allow the camp to continue to support recovery in the community.
• $155,000 to Carolina Farm Stewardship Association for personnel, travel, and training expenses to provide technical assistance to farmers in Hurricane Helene impacted communities to help them access disaster relief programs. 
• $650,000 to Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte for six case management and related positions and for replacement personal property for survivors of Hurricane Helene.
• $60,000 to Centro Unido Latino Americano for rental assistance, utility assistance, replacement personal property, and case management to support survivors of Hurricane Helene.
• $60,000 to Hola Carolina for rental assistance, utility assistance, replacement personal property, and case management of survivors of Hurricane Helene. 
• $107,654 to Hospitality House of Northwest North Carolina for case management, utility assistance, and housing assistance for survivors of Hurricane Helene.
• $225,000 to Legal Aid of North Carolina, Inc. for salaries/benefits and direct onboarding expenses for four case coordinators to respond to needs resulting from Hurricane Helene.
• $1,000,000 to the North Carolina Baptist Men to support a range of Hurricane Helene recovery related needs including volunteer support expenses such as shower trailer, volunteer meals, and transportation, tools and equipment, materials and contractors to support home repair expenses, and for other costs to assist survivors.
• $75,000 to the North Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence for shelter/personal items, providing access to shelter, and mileage.
• $175,000 to the Western North Carolina Annual Conferences of the United Methodist for tools and equipment necessary to support home repair efforts, and for other costs to assist survivors.
• $150,000 to WAMY for home repair, housing assistance, utility assistance, replacement personal property, case management, tools and equipment, and volunteer support.

Golden LEAF is gathering information from governmental entities and 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations within the areas affected by Hurricane Helene regarding unmet needs to repair, replace, construct, or improve infrastructure, buildings, or equipment damaged because of Hurricane Helene and to construct or improve infrastructure to support disaster relief occasioned by Hurricane Helene. Unmet needs are needs not covered by insurance or FEMA or that are not expected to be funded by another source, such as NCDOT or NCDEQ. Unmet needs also include critical needs for cash flow of a governmental entity or 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization to begin a project while pursuing funding from insurance or FEMA. 

Small businesses interested in more information about WNC Strong: Helene Business Recovery Fund should visit https://www.mountainbizworks.org/helene/fund/. 

For more information about Golden LEAF Hurricane Helene Relief, visit https://goldenleaffoun.wpengine.com/helene-relief/.

To provide further information about the unmet needs, visit https://goldenleaffoun.wpengine.com/helene-recovery/.

 

Recently, Golden LEAF President, Chief Executive Officer Scott T. Hamilton sat down with John Hardin, Executive Director of the North Carolina Office of Science, Technology, and Innovation in the NC Department of Commerce, via Zoom and filmed an episode of Critical Conversations. In this series, Scott talks with professionals about economic development issues affecting the state.

The Office of Science, Technology, and Innovation is a part of the North Carolina Department of Commerce. The North Carolina Board of Science, Technology, and Innovation advises and makes recommendations to the North Carolina Governor, General Assembly, Secretary of Commerce, and the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina on the role of science, technology and innovation in the economic growth and development of the state. 

The mission of the Office of Science, Technology, and Innovation is to improve the economic well‐being and quality of life of all North Carolinians through advancing science, technology, and innovation. To achieve this mission, the Office of Science, Technology, and Innovation develops and administers policies and programs that accelerate both the development of next-generation technology companies and the adoption of technology across existing industry. It also staffs the 25-member Board of Science, Technology and Innovation, appointed by the Governor and General Assembly.

Since the inception of the Office of Science, Technology, and Innovation in 1963, the Board and the staff have worked on several data-driven strategies, said Hardin. One of the more known strategic plans of the Office of Science, Technology, and Innovation was called Vision 2030. Over several years, the Office held focus groups around economic needs. The plan was shelved because of changing administrations. It was since picked back up and work has begun on enacting Vision 2030. Tracking Innovation is a statistical report card of all the innovation economy of North Carolina. They are measuring 42 different measures related to innovation that are happening across the state.

The Office of Science, Technology and Innovation has a number of programs and initiatives. There are Tracking Innovation reports, grant programs, Innovation Hubs, and a focus on Defense Innovation. Two federal programs called the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and the Small Business Technology Transfer Research (SBTTR) are an important source of early-stage technology funding for small businesses to help R&D-focused entrepreneurs and advanced research and development in a wide variety of technology areas. Hardin said when he came on the team in 2003, North Carolina did not seem to be achieving an appropriate level of federal funding to help these technology focused businesses. The Office of Science, Technology and Innovation then proposed and received funding for the One North Carolina Small Business Program through the legislature, explained Hardin. The One North Carolina Small Business Program has been operational since 2006 to provide matching funding to get the small businesses. Over 600 grants have been awarded. These companies have created and retained around 1,500 jobs because of the program.

Hardin said there are many opportunities in rural areas that may not be in urban areas for companies focused on science, technology, and innovation. He said the rural areas are less expensive to locate in, have less traffic to navigate, and the competition is less in a rural area. Hardin also stated that the State has programs in place to help companies expand into rural areas. He added that the programs through the Office of Science, Technology and Innovation, provide rural companies a higher ranking for the funding. In other State-supported programs, more funding is available for companies locating or expanding in rural areas.

Learn more about the North Carolina Office of Science, Technology and Innovation.

 

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.

Organizations leading the event were the NC Chamber; myFutureNC; NC Community College System and Foundation;  NC School Superintendents’ Association; the NC Science, Mathematics, and Technology Education Center and the Burroughs Wellcome Fund; and the Successful Practices Network. Participants in the forums included leaders from business, government, education, and community organizations.

One of Golden LEAF’s priority areas is workforce preparedness. Golden LEAF supports workforce projects that increase the number of qualified individuals with skills aligned with current and future needs of North Carolina businesses and prepare students with the technical and life skills necessary to enter work.

Golden LEAF Program Officer Kimberly Smith participated in the regional forum held at Pitt Community College on September 26th to help facilitate discussions and to learn more about the need for collaboration around AI and technology. Other forums were held at Catawba Valley Community College on September 16th and the Davidson campus of Davidson-Davie Community College on September 17th. A fourth forum was scheduled for September 27th at Wake Tech Community College but was canceled as a result of Hurricane Helene. 

Golden LEAF President, Chief Executive Officer Scott T. Hamilton attended the September 16th forum and facilitated a table discussion.

Smith shared that the event kicked off with keynote speaker, Executive Director of the Successful Practices Network Dr. Bill Daggett, presenting a view of how technology is changing the workforce and what jobs are likely to be most impacted by AI.

North Carolina Community College System President Jeff Cox gave remarks on the future of AI, what is happening in the region, and how labor market trend data is shifting because of AI.

“A question was posed to the audience about which industries in your region do you think are most resilient or most vulnerable to advancing technology, and what changes are needed in education and training to prepare the future workforce,” said Smith. 

As a table facilitator, Smith helped report on group discussions.

“It was collectively agreed that it is the responsibility of everyone in the room to ensure that our students and existing workforce have the necessary skill sets to adapt to the increasingly changing workforce,” said Smith.

In the third segment, education and business leaders presented on how they incorporate AI into their day-to-day professions. 

“Happy Gingras, Vice President of Academic Affairs and Chief Academic Officer at Martin Community College gave the forum participants a glimpse at how she incorporated AI into the classroom by creating a fully AI generated course for students,” said Smith.

Smith said that she took away from the forum that educators, government officials, and business leaders need to purposefully form unprecedented partnerships to help strengthen industry and education, as it relates to AI and technology.

“As a Program Officer, we are always looking to identify the education-to-employment pathways,” said Smith, “and now that the demands of the workforce are becoming more sophisticated through AI, it is important that the level of training and education match that demand.”

The conversation continued at the North Carolina Community College System Annual Conference in October with Dr. Daggett continuing the conversation about how AI will increasingly impact business and industry and therefore the skills, knowledge, and qualities students will need to be successful in the workforce.

“I have no doubt there will be a collective action plan that results from these conversations,” said Smith. “After all, our workforce will have to be ready for what is here and what’s to come.”

Briefly describe your role at Golden LEAF.
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.  

Describe yourself in three words.
Passionate. Resourceful. Cheerful.

What’s your favorite part of your job and why?
My favorite part of my job is traveling. I enjoy being able to visit different communities all over North Carolina. Site visits allow me to see all parts of North Carolina and connect with the grantees and applicants to learn the history of important projects and initiatives. 

What is your favorite pastime outside of work?
Fall is my favorite time of the year to visit the beach. It’s cool, not crowded, and incredibly peaceful.  If I don’t have time to travel, I go for walks on local nature trails. I also like rearranging or DIYing projects around my house. I also love crafting and learning new skills. These activities and hobbies allow me to spend quality time with my friends and family, which is the most important thing to me.

What is your biggest work-related accomplishment within the last year?
I just started working for Golden LEAF a little over a year ago, and in the past year, I have had opportunities to work on nearly every type of funding program Golden LEAF offers. This taught me to adapt to each of the needs and requirements of the programs. I feel very honored to have worked with so many different projects, team members, and applicants with my role here at Golden LEAF. The variety in my job has allowed me to see all of the impact that Golden LEAF has had on rural North Carolina, and I am very proud of the work we have accomplished. 

What motivates you to support long-term economic development in rural, tobacco-dependent, and economically distressed communities?
I have spent most of my life living in eastern North Carolina. I have seen the variety of needs that exist in this region. I appreciate the work Golden LEAF has supported and its positive impact. I am motivated to assist in Golden LEAF’s future programs and initiatives. 

Learn more about Katie here.

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.

 

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.

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.