July 25, 2024
At the June meeting, the Golden LEAF Board of Directors awarded $4,403,985 to support 10 projects through the SITE Program and $400,000 to support an Economic Catalyst project.
The Golden LEAF Foundation Board of Directors awarded $4,403,985 million in funding for 10 projects through the Golden LEAF SITE Program in Caldwell, Cherokee, Chowan, Columbus, Gaston, Harnett, Nash, Northampton, Warren, and Wilkes counties.
The SITE Program offers resources to help communities identify potential sites for economic development, provides funding to complete due diligence on publicly controlled sites, and provides funding to extend public utilities to publicly controlled sites or to conduct clearing and rough grading of publicly owned sites. The three phases of the SITE Program are Identification, Due Diligence, and Development.
The Golden LEAF Board awarded $266,100 in funding to support six SITE Program – Due Diligence projects. These projects will use funding to complete eligible due diligence activities such as environmental assessments, archaeological analyses, and mapping. Organizations receiving SITE Program – Due Diligence support include:
- $50,000 to the County of Caldwell for the Foothills Regional Airport Industrial Park.
- $50,000 to the Cherokee County Local Government for an Industrial Park on Highway 19/74.
- $40,400 to the Edenton-Chowan Partnership, Inc. for the Edenton Chowan Airport Industrial Park.
- $34,000 to the County of Nash for the Whitakers Business and Industry Center.
- $49,200 to Northampton County for the Northampton County Commerce Park.
- $42,500 to the County of Warren for the Hwy 1 Industrial Park.
For the SITE Program – Development, the Golden LEAF Board awarded $4,137,885 in funding for four projects that will provide public infrastructure and clearing and rough grading, to benefit eligible sites that have completed the due diligence necessary to demonstrate that the site is suitable for development. Organizations receiving SITE Program – Development support include:
- $590,000 to the County of Columbus for clearing and grubbing of 15 acres, and wastewater extension to serve Lot 4 of the Southeast Regional Park. The county anticipates that successful industry recruitment to the site would create approximately 100 new full-time jobs, $30 million in private capital investment, and $590,000 in public investment.
- $1,500,000 to the City of Gastonia to install a parallel sewer outfall to increase sewer capacity to serve the 30-acre Lot 12 in Apple Creek Corporate Park. The city anticipates that successful industry recruitment to the site would create approximately 180 new full-time jobs, $200 million in private capital investment, and $4,562,248 in public investment.
- $547,885 to Harnett County Economic Development Partnership for clearing, grubbing, grading, erosion control, and other site preparation activities as well as a title opinion and utility capacity analysis for a 25-acre site in the Edgerton Industrial Park. The county anticipates that successful industry recruitment to the site would create approximately 80 new full-time jobs, $10 million in private capital investment, and $547,885 in public investment.
- $1,500,000 to Wilkes Economic Development Corporation for clearing, grubbing, grading, and erosion control on 22 acres in the Wilkes Industrial Park. The county anticipates that successful industry recruitment to the site would create approximately 40 new full-time jobs, $8 million in private capital investment, and $1,803,450 in public investment.
The Golden LEAF Board also awarded a $400,000 Economic Catalyst project to the County of Randolph to support the location of Ross Stores, Inc., a major American retailer of off-price apparel and home fashion. The company will build a new 1.7 million-square-foot distribution center in Randleman. Golden LEAF will support public road improvements necessary for the project. The Golden LEAF Board awarded $1 million in SITE Program funding in 2022 that extended sewer to the site in Randleman.
For Economic Catalyst projects, Golden LEAF considers applications to assist eligible state, regional and local economic development entities with grants to support permissible activities in projects in which a company will commit to create a specific number of full-time jobs in a tobacco-dependent or economically distressed area. See the guidelines for Economic Catalyst projects here. 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.