Job Creation & Economic Investment

Golden LEAF funds economic development projects that focus on creating and retaining jobs, attracting new business to North Carolina, expanding industries and training new workers. Primarily, these projects are meant to create, expand, or improve business activity in tobacco-dependent, economically distressed or rural communities. Golden LEAF partners with the North Carolina Department of Commerce, the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina, and local governments to provide gap funding to assist with job creation.

Projects awarded in this priority area will gather data to support outcomes including:

Investment in publicly owned infrastructure
Investment in privately owned property, plant, and equipment
New full-time jobs created
Average annual wage of new full-time jobs
Business start-ups

As well as narrative outcomes including: jobs retained that were at risk without Golden LEAF support; comparison to county wages; job creation in identified job sectors; etc.

Projects are awarded in this priority area through all Golden LEAF programs. Please review the information and links below to determine which program might be best for your project.

Open Grants Program

Awards up to $500,000
Applications accepted a rolling basis from organizations across North Carolina

Community-Based Grants Initiative

Awards up to $1.5 million
Applications accepted from an invited prosperity zone in the fall of each year

Economic Catalyst

For projects that will lead to job creation by a company that will commit to create the jobs if Golden LEAF provides a grant for the project.
Competitive applications will include information showing that the expected job creation is at risk without Golden LEAF support.

SITE Program

The SITE Program is open to all governmental entities and 501(c)(3) organizations that propose projects for site identification, due diligence, and development.

Focus Area

Open Grants Program

Community-Based Grants Initiative

Economic Catalyst

SITE Program