The purpose of this grant is to provide funding to The North Carolina Community College System to continue the Golden LEAF Scholars Program for participating North Carolina community colleges. The program provides need-based scholarship assistance to students from rural, economically distressed areas of North Carolina who are attending public two-year colleges in curriculum or occupational continuing education programs. Priority is given to those students pursuing occupational programs that link to identifiable employment opportunities in the local, regional and state economies. All public community colleges are eligible to opt-in to the program; however, community colleges with a main campus located in a rural county that is designated as a Tier 1 or 2 economically disadvantaged county by the NC Department of Commerce receive extra funding to distribute to students. Scholarships assist students with the costs of attending a community college, including tuition, books, fees, supplies, childcare, transportation, and credential testing fees for mid-skills training courses.
