Across North Carolina, one of the issues that continues to surface in conversations with local leaders, employers, and economic developers is workforce housing. In the latest episode of Golden LEAF Critical Conversations, we discussed how partnerships are creating workforce housing solutions.
Warren County is using the Golden LEAF SITE Program to strengthen its competitiveness for economic development. What began as a search for a viable industrial site has advanced through identification, due diligence, and now active development, positioning the county to better compete for new industry.
Randolph County’s recruitment of a 1.7 million-square-foot Ross Stores, Inc. distribution center is a powerful example of how long-term planning, infrastructure investment, and strong partnerships can come together to deliver transformational economic development. The project will create 852 jobs and will invest $450 million capital investment.
The latest episode of Golden LEAF Critical Conversations with Scott T. Hamilton, the Foundation’s President and CEO, brings together three leaders driving economic development across North Carolina to answer a critical question: What does it really take to attract new industry to a community?
Stanly County is seeing tangible returns from a strategic infrastructure improvement at Riverstone Industrial Park. Golden LEAF funding to extend and improve the access road off Brown’s Hill Road transformed both how the park functions and how it was perceived by prospective employers.
In 2021, the Golden LEAF Board of Directors awarded $159,034 to extend and improve access into Riverstone Industrial Park. The road improvement helped American Racing Headers locate a new facility at the park, creating 56 new jobs with an average annual wage above the county average and making a capital investment of $4.375 million.
Golden LEAF Critical Conversations has officially moved to a podcast format and is now available for download on Spotify, making it easier than ever to listen on your schedule.
Hosted by Golden LEAF President, Chief Executive Officer Scott T. Hamilton, Golden LEAF Critical Conversations features conversations with professionals about the most pressing economic development issues shaping communities across North Carolina.
In southeastern North Carolina, strengthening the healthcare workforce is also a strategy for long-term economic growth. At Cape Fear Valley Health System, expanded physician training has helped address provider shortages while generating significant economic impact across the region.
“Developing a physician workforce here in southeastern North Carolina is core to what we do,” said Cape Fear Valley Health System’s Chief Executive Officer Mike Nagowski. “By every statistic you look at, we have a dramatic shortage of healthcare providers in this region.”
The Roanoke Chowan Community Health Center (RCCHC) is bringing new opportunities for both healthcare access and employment to rural Bertie County through the development of the Aulander Dental and Primary Care Clinic. Supported in part by the Golden LEAF Foundation, this 10,000-square-foot facility will house eight dental operatories and four medical exam rooms, offering integrated care in a medically underserved area.
CommWell Health of Newton Grove/Spivey’s Corner has completed a major renovation and reconfiguration of its healthcare facility in Sampson County in time for its 50th anniversary. The updated campus strengthens access to primary care, dental, and behavioral health services for residents in this rural community while creating new jobs in the healthcare field.
When a company considers bringing new jobs to a community, details matter. From the speed of moving from deal-signing to production, to site infrastructure and workforce availability, these are critical factors that determine where and how companies choose to grow.
