This award provides funding to the Eastern North Carolina Food Commercialization Center (ENCFCC) to support the acquisition of processing equipment for its value-added food production center as well as support building construction and improvements in Ayden, North Carolina. Construction of the facility will be complete in Fall 2024. The project is expected to create at least 20 jobs at the facility. ENCFCC has letters from an initial group of farmers outlining their intention to sell produce to the facility which will process the produce using the equipment to be purchased with Golden LEAF funds. ENCFCC anticipates the acreage and number of participating farmers will increase rapidly by Spring 2025. ENCFCC is expected to draw farmers from surrounding counties and will be sustained through operating revenue. Golden LEAF funds will be used for equipment and building construction and improvements.
