March 17, 2022
The Golden LEAF Foundation Board adopted a long-term strategic plan to serve as a roadmap for the next few years. During the process, Golden LEAF fine-tuned its priority areas and created goals for each of these areas. Golden LEAF’s strategic funding priority areas are:
The mission of Golden LEAF is to increase economic opportunity in North Carolina’s rural, economically distressed, and tobacco-dependent communities. Golden LEAF views agriculture projects as an economic development engine. Golden LEAF supports agriculture by funding projects that support the development of new crops, expanded markets for agriculture products, scientific research, training for farmers, cost-effective techniques, and value-added agricultural enterprises.
Some of the ways Golden LEAF measures the success of an agriculture project is through tracking the number of participants at agricultural trainings, new publications directed towards farmers, and the monthly use of agricultural facilities that benefit farmers. Other outcomes of agriculture projects include jobs, revenue growth, new agricultural business formations, economic output, changes in agricultural practices; acres in production; and new crops/ products grown or produced.
Learn more about some of Golden LEAF’s agriculture partners below:
Funder Spotlight: N.C. Tobacco Trust Fund Commission
The N.C. Tobacco Trust Fund Commission’s mission is to assist tobacco farmers, former tobacco quota holders, persons engaged in tobacco-related businesses, individuals displaced from tobacco-related employment, and tobacco product component businesses in the State affected by the adverse effects of the Master Settlement Agreement.
Critical Conversations with Scott T. Hamilton featuring Adrian Percy, Executive Director of the N.C. Plant Sciences Initiative
Dr. Percy has over 30 years of experience as a leader in agricultural research and became the first executive director of the N.C. Plant Sciences Initiative in November 2021.
All In NC with Scott T. Hamilton
The Golden LEAF Board of Directors held their annual retreat, where they heard from several experts aligned with Golden LEAF’s priority areas, including agriculture.