CBGI – Piedmont-Triad Prosperity Zone

Counties from the Piedmont-Triad Prosperity Zone are invited to participate in our Community-Based Grants Initiative (CBGI). The process is competitive, but organizations from all counties within the Prosperity Zone will have an opportunity to apply. 

The counties in the Piedmont-Triad Prosperity Zone are Alamance, Caswell, Davidson, Davie, Forsyth, Guilford, Randolph, Rockingham, Stokes, Surry, Yadkin.

The CBGI is designed to identify projects with the potential to have a significant impact. It is a focused process with grants targeted toward investments in the building blocks of economic growth. Funds are limited to projects that address job creation and economic investment, agriculture, and workforce preparedness.

Available Funds

A total of $11m is available to support projects in the region. Awards are limited to no more than three projects in any county and may total no more than $1.5 million in any county. Not all proposals will be funded and there is no assurance that there will be a funded project in every county. Funds may also be awarded for regional projects (see information below), which will not count toward the limit of projects in a county, but regional projects are funded through the overall $11 million program budget.

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Eligible Entities

Applicants must be 501(c)(3) organizations or governmental entities (county and municipal governments, community colleges, universities, etc.) Funds do not have to be administered or implemented by the county government.

Process

County managers serve a key role in the process. Each county manager will submit projects for feedback by Golden LEAF and later endorse a slate of up to four projects for consideration. Each county will determine how to identify which projects will be endorsed for this initiative. Only projects that have been endorsed will be eligible to submit an application for consideration by the Golden LEAF Board of Directors.

 

County Contact Information
Rockingham Lance Metzler
[email protected]
(336) 342-8103
https://www.rockinghamcountync.gov/ 
Yadkin Lisa Hughes
[email protected]
(336) 849-7900
https://www.yadkincountync.gov/ 
Surry Chris Knopf
 [email protected]
(336) 401-8201
https://www.co.surry.nc.us/ 
Alamance  https://www.alamance-nc.com/ 
Caswell https://www.caswellcountync.gov/ 
Davidson https://www.co.davidson.nc.us/ 
Davie  https://www.daviecountync.gov/ 
Forsyth https://www.co.forsyth.nc.us/ 
Guilford https://www.guilfordcountync.gov/ 
Randolph https://www.randolphcountync.gov/ 
Stokes https://www.co.stokes.nc.us/ 

Regional Projects

Eligible entities may submit regional projects for consideration. Regional projects are not subject to the county manager endorsement process but must reach out to discuss with Golden LEAF staff to ensure the project meets the eligibility requirements for regional projects. 

Regional projects must meet all of the following criteria:

  • Collaboration of entities in at least three counties 
  • Collaboration outside of traditional service area

Timeline

July 10, by noon

County Managers may submit initial project worksheets via email to Golden LEAF for review and feedback. Golden LEAF will schedule meetings with County Managers to review submitted projects. Meetings will be scheduled on July 19 and July 20. There is no cap on the number of projects eligible to be submitted in this phase. Regional projects may submit project worksheets directly to Golden LEAF for review and feedback.

August 10, by noon

County Managers submit the final list of projects endorsed to apply to Golden LEAF. Each county may submit four projects that total up to $2m, though no single project may exceed $1.5m.

Regional projects submit a form confirming their intent to apply. Regional projects must meet with Golden LEAF staff prior to the August 10 project deadline to request regional designation and are encouraged to do so as early as possible.

August 31 and September 7, 1:30pm - 4:30pm

Mandatory virtual application workshop held for endorsed applicants to (two options, only one required). Golden LEAF staff will review specific requirements of the application.

October 26, by noon

Applications due to Golden LEAF via online application portal. Link to be provided following application workshops.

October - December

Golden LEAF staff reviews applications and conducts due diligence. Golden LEAF anticipates that in person site visits will be scheduled in November and early December.

February 1, 2024

Golden LEAF Board reviews applications and awards funds for projects.

Resources

Golden LEAF held a kickoff training on April 27. Please visit this link to access presentations from this training.

Golden LEAF held a gathering training on May 25. Please visit this link to access presentations from this training.

For more information on the Community-Based Grants Initiative, contact Programs staff.

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