In January 2020, the Golden LEAF Foundation launched its Community-Based Grants Initiative in the Northwest Prosperity Zone. This $11 million initiative supports the building blocks of economic growth in communities, generally targeting one Prosperity Zone at a time. As part of this initiative, the N.C. Rural Center provided coaching to cross-county project teams that identified untapped regional resources and helped eligible entities pursue economic development funding opportunities, such as the Golden LEAF CBGI. Although the kickoff meeting was held in person in February, the coaching sessions moved to a virtual format as a result of the pandemic.
The CBGI focuses on projects that address agriculture, education, workforce development, economic development, public infrastructure, and health care infrastructure. Funding for the CBGI in the Northwest is expected to be awarded in April 2021. Learn more about the CBGI in the Northwest by clicking here.
Learn more about the CBGI process in the articles below: