Economic development in rural communities rarely happens because of the work of one organization. Long before a company announces plans to locate or expand, local, regional, state, and federal partners are working together to strengthen communities, prepare infrastructure, develop sites, support businesses, and position rural areas to compete for new investment.
As North Carolina’s population continues to grow, so does the demand for workforce housing. In Goldsboro, Habitat for Humanity of Goldsboro-Wayne is partnering with Golden LEAF and others to transform a 24.5-acre site into a new mixed-income neighborhood that will provide homes for essential workers while strengthening the local economy. Discover how infrastructure investments and community partnerships are helping address one of rural North Carolina’s most pressing economic development challenges.
Housing has become one of the most significant challenges facing communities across North Carolina. As employers expand their operations and the state’s population continues to grow, many rural communities are struggling to provide housing for teachers, healthcare workers, first responders, manufacturing employees, and other essential workers.
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.”
