SITE Program – Identification

Golden LEAF will provide support to identify potential industrial sites in communities that do not currently have quality industrial sites to market. The process will involve communication between site development consultants and the applicant to gather information to guide identification of potential sites and to help narrow those sites for further consideration by the community.

Use of Funds

If selected for funding in this phase, a team of site development consultants engaged directly by Golden LEAF will work with the applicant to learn more about the community’s economic development opportunities and strategies and gather information about the community’s infrastructure and assets. Using that information, the consultants will conduct a GIS review of the community to identify exploration zones to consider. The team will conduct site visits with the applicant to review those exploration zones for potential industrial sites.

At the conclusion of the process, the consultants will provide recommendations regarding targeted development opportunities, sites that merit further evaluation, the development potential of those sites, strengths and weaknesses of each site, and the timeframe for potential development. 

A projected timeline is included in the application guidelines.

Requirements

• Applicants must be a county government or an eligible governmental entity or 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides a letter of support from the county government. Golden LEAF anticipates that there will be only one application for the Identification phase per county.
• Successful communities will be able to show a plan for economic development and how site identification will further the goals of that plan.

Resources

Available resources include:

• Frequently Asked Questions and Glossary
• Guidelines for each phase of the program including all application questions and checklist for required attachments
• Access to application portal

Application Deadline

Applications for the Fall 2023 round are closed. The application window for the Spring 2024 round will open in January 2024. Sign up for updates.

How to Apply

Only 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations and governmental entities may apply.

• Review resources for the SITE – Identification program, including detailed guidelines.
• For instructions on how to access the new grant portal for the first time, click here and select the appropriate quick reference sheet:
  • New applicants, select and follow the instructions for “How to Create an Account”.
  • Former applicants using the same email address used for a prior application, select and follow the instructions for “How to Log In”.
• If you already have an account in Golden LEAF’s new grant management system, click here to log in.
• Click “Apply for Funding” then “Apply for a Grant” in the SITE Program – Identification section to access the application.