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Job Creation
and Economic
Investment

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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 in this priority area 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
  • New housing units

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.

Funding Opportunities for Job Creation and Economic Investment

Job Creation and Economic Investment News

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Town of Mocksville wins nearly 400 agribusiness jobs, more to come

North Carolina’s number one industry is agriculture and agribusiness. Golden LEAF focuses on agriculture as an economic development engine. One of the outcomes Golden LEAF measures in its agriculture priority is value-added agricultural enterprises.
April 23, 2025
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Industrial park to land more than 650 jobs in Davidson County

Davidson County has three new employers that will create a total of more than 650 jobs at Lexington Industrial Park, thanks in part to infrastructure funding from Golden LEAF. In April 2017, the Golden LEAF Board of Directors awarded $1 million in Community-Based Grants Initiative funding to Davidson County for the development of a new county-owned industrial park near Interstate 85. Golden LEAF funds were used for public wastewater infrastructure costs for the Lexington Industrial Park.
April 23, 2025
Critical Conversations (52)

Critical Conversations with Scott T. Hamilton, featuring North Carolina Department of Commerce Secretary Lee Lilley

Recently, Golden LEAF President, Chief Executive Officer Scott T. Hamilton sat down with the North Carolina Department of Commerce Secretary Lee Lilley via Zoom and filmed an episode of Critical Conversations. In this series, Scott talks with professionals about economic development issues affecting the state.
April 9, 2025