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Middle school career labs support workforce pipeline for high-demand careers

Jenny Tinklepaugh on May 27, 2026

Two middle schools in Wilson County are helping students think about their futures long before they reach high school through the College and Career Exploration Labs at Darden and Speight Middle Schools.

The labs were designed to give middle school students hands-on experiences that connect classroom learning to real-world careers. Students explore a variety of high-demand fields through interactive modules focused on Biomedical Engineering, Manufacturing Technologies, Electricity and Electronics, Structural Engineering, Health Science Careers, Computer Drafting and Design, Environment and Ecology, and other career pathways tied to workforce preparedness.

Bolstering North Carolina’s healthcare workforce pipeline

Jenny Tinklepaugh on May 27, 2026

Across North Carolina, healthcare providers are facing critical staffing shortages. In 2025 the Golden LEAF Board of Directors awarded eight community colleges more than $4.1 million total to expand healthcare training capacity and prepare students for in-demand careers to help address these challenges. Funds were used to support expanding training capacity, modernizing facilities, strengthening career pathways, and connecting students directly to high-demand careers.

Programs Perspective: The Challenge of Recruiting Career and Technical Educators

Jenny Tinklepaugh on February 26, 2026

North Carolina’s community colleges are using creative strategies to recruit career and technical instructional roles. Golden LEAF Programs staff see firsthand these real challenges in the workforce preparedness projects they manage. Whether the Golden LEAF funds awarded support a new advanced manufacturing lab, a nursing expansion, or a skilled trades facility, one reality consistently surfaces: buildings and equipment are only part of the equation. Qualified instructors are often the critical ingredient.

Golden LEAF Critical Conversations Podcast – More Than a Scholarship: Golden LEAF Scholarship Pathway From Classroom to Career

Jenny Tinklepaugh on February 11, 2026

What happens when opportunity meets rural community pride? In this episode of Golden LEAF Critical Conversations, host Scott T. Hamilton talks with a current Golden LEAF Scholar, a Scholar Alumna, and an internship site host to show exactly how the Golden LEAF Scholarship and Golden LEAF Rural Internship Initiative change lives and shapes communities across North Carolina.

Golden LEAF Critical Conversations is now a Podcast: First episode on the 2025 Economic Overview and 2026 Economic Outlook is live

Jenny Tinklepaugh on January 7, 2026

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.

Healthcare programs deliver strong economic impact in Southeastern North Carolina

Jenny Tinklepaugh on January 7, 2026

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.”

Critical Conversations with Scott T. Hamilton featuring Executive Director of the North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority Mary Shuping

Jenny Tinklepaugh on November 12, 2025

Recently, Golden LEAF President, Chief Executive Officer Scott T. Hamilton sat down with Mary Shuping, Executive Director of the North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority (NCSEAA), via Zoom and filmed an episode of Critical Conversations. In this series, Scott talks with professionals about economic development issues affecting the state.