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Golden LEAF Awards Over $24 Million to Help Bring High-Speed Broadband to Rural North Carolina
Grant will support $111 million broadband fiber project proposed for NC
The Golden LEAF Foundation recently awarded a $24 million grant in order to help secure $78 million in federal funds and leverage other private and public resources to bring broadband fiber to 69, mostly rural, counties across North Carolina.
"The expansion of broadband access in rural counties is critical to jobs, economic investment, education and communications," said Governor Bev Perdue. "The Golden LEAF Foundation has provided the critical matching dollars which will make this project possible. More than 1,000 jobs are associated with just the installation and creation of the network, and the lasting benefits to homes, schools and businesses will be significant."
Sixty-seven of the 69 counties are currently underserved or partially underserved for broadband connections.
“These areas of the state are struggling to transition their economies,” said Dan Gerlach, President of Golden LEAF. “The Foundation Board of Directors views this initiative as an opportunity to provide essential infrastructure, take advantage of federal matching dollars and invest directly in efforts to grow stronger communities. Access to fiber in these areas will help level the playing field by providing global connectivity for business and educational opportunities. Rural North Carolina cannot be left behind.”
The $24 million grant, part of the Golden LEAF Rural Broadband Initiative, was awarded to the non-profit MCNC, to provide matching funds for round two of the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP2). If awarded by the federal government, MCNC will be able to implement a $111 million broadband fiber project and install 1,448 miles of new fiber through 69 counties in northeastern, northwestern, north central and south central North Carolina.
“Available bandwidth should not be a limiting factor in access to education, receiving modern healthcare or seeking economic prosperity,” said Michael A. Murphy, Chairman of the MCNC board of directors. “We are very appreciative of the Golden LEAF Foundation’s provision of matching funds to the Golden LEAF Rural Broadband Initiative. If the initiative is funded these areas of rural North Carolina will not be on the wrong side of the digital divide.”
The Golden LEAF Rural Broadband Initiative will greatly increase the broadband capacity and stabilize costs for 179 public school systems, community college campuses, libraries, universities, and other public institutions through direct connections to the existing North Carolina Research and Education Network (NCREN). MCNC has operated NCREN for the last quarter century.
In January 2010, MCNC received $40M in the first round of federal funding to build out NCREN in the southeast and western portion of North Carolina.
Golden LEAF Rural Broadband Initiative
Fact Sheet
The 69 county service area encompasses approximately:
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32,597 square miles
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5.93 million total population
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2.32 million households
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160,000 businesses
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4,066 community anchor institutions
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Approximately 709,500 households without access to broadband
Total Project Value:
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$111M
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$78M requested from National Telecommunications and Information Administration BTOP
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$33M in matching funds raised in North Carolina, including $24 million from the Golden LEAF Foundation grant
69 BTOP2 counties would be served:
Alleghany, Anson, Ashe, Avery, Beaufort, Bertie, Brunswick, Buncombe, Cabarrus, Caldwell, Camden, Carteret, Caswell, Chatham, Chowan, Cleveland, Columbus, Craven, Cumberland, Currituck, Dare, Edgecombe, Franklin, Gaston, Gates, Graham, Granville, Halifax, Harnett, Haywood, Henderson, Hertford, Hyde, Jackson, Lee, Lincoln, Madison, Martin, McDowell, Mecklenburg, Mitchell, Moore, Nash, New Hanover, Northampton, Onslow, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Person, Pitt, Polk, Richmond, Robeson, Rockingham, Rutherford, Scotland, Stokes, Surry, Swain, Transylvania, Tyrrell, Union, Vance, Wake, Warren, Washington, Watauga, Wilson, and Yancey
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Click here to read more about the Golden LEAF Rural Broadband Initiative or click on one of the following news
links:
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NC prawn farmers benefiting from consumer demand
Research helping grow market options
Golden LEAF is assisting NC farmers to take advantage of a growing market for freshwater prawn.
Pictured is a freshwater prawn from Ipock Farms in Vanceboro, NC.
Prawn farming in North Carolina was virtually nonexistent in 2002. Now there are between 12 and 14 farm operations, producing prawn on about 48 acres of land. This niche industry is becoming firmly established in our state through the efforts of North Carolina State University and others aimed at technical support and research activities to refine production and marketing practices.
According to Mike Frinsko, Aquaculture Agent with NCSU-Cooperative Extension, “Last year’s production was the smoothest so far due in part to collaborative efforts. Our farmers are innovators,” Frinsko said, “constantly seeking new ways to improve current practices.”
Pictured are North Carolina farmers working to harvest prawn.
"While the U.S. prawn industry as a whole has a great product, North Carolina is quickly approaching the top of the list, and considered by some, the best in the world," said Frinsko. He attributes NC’s quality to the high standards established in growing the prawn. He also states that following nationally recognized Best Management Practices, developed in part by NC Cooperative Extension, has resulted in exceptional product quality and uniformity that the market demands.
Golden LEAF is supporting the efforts of the state’s prawn farming industry through a $50,000 grant targeting research on live-haul techniques. Current methods are being reviewed, modified and tested to create an improved industry protocol that all NC growers can use.
By improving current live-haul techniques, Cooperative Extension hopes NC farmers can expand their market reach beyond the current frozen and in-season local markets to other high-value markets, such as live market retailers.
According to Frinsko, the storage of live prawn at markets has its challenges with few facilities knowledgeable of the specific holding conditions necessary to maintain quality. “If we can get the retailers to follow our recommendations, optimal storage will allow nearly 100% survival during their holding period,” said Frinsko.
Earlier this spring, the US freshwater prawn industry was rated a coveted “Best Choice” ranking by the Monterey Bay, Seafood Watch program. Measuring numerous production and environmental criteria, the ranking attests to the product’s sustainability and quality, which results in a significant advantage in marketing.
NC growers are currently in the process of readying their ponds to stock in mid-May. To prepare for the season, farmers attend workshops on pond maintenance and water quality management, place feed orders and go over pump and waterline operation and maintenance.
Frinsko expects that 2010 will bring great strides in live-hauling techniques.
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Pictured is teacher Mary Campbell, of Chaloner Middle School in Roanoke Rapids, using a SMART Board.
Halifax school districts build partnership through Golden LEAF initiative
Systems getting SMART for unified goal --student achievement
A collaborative effort between Roanoke Rapids Graded School District, Weldon City Schools and Halifax County Schools is working to improve student achievement in their middle and high schools through a 21st century classroom technology project supported by a Golden LEAF Community Assistance Initiative grant totaling more than $1 million.
“When the school systems heard about Golden LEAF’s Community Assistance Initiative coming to Halifax County, we knew the schools would have a better chance of leveraging major funding if the districts worked together,” said Greg Little, Assistant Superintendent, Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment for Roanoke Rapids Graded School District. “The Golden LEAF process has created a strong partnership between the three districts. Collaboration on this project demanded teamwork, coupled with aligned vision, and the resources, expertise and hands-on experiences of all the partners to make this project work.”
Before Golden LEAF funded the collaborative project, the three school districts were working separately on building technology in the schools through small-scale projects. When the Halifax community at large made educational technology a priority for Golden LEAF funding, the three systems started talking and working on a synchronized strategy.
What formed was a partnership between three separate school systems in the county.
According to Little, the process has been rewarding and challenging. “Just trying to coordinate 5 organizations’ schedules is a task. Each school system had to work to create a comprehensive plan, combining their individual goals and strategies for student achievement. We needed everybody on board to make this happen.”
The Golden LEAF grant will assist with the purchase and installation of SMART interactive whiteboards, teacher laptops, LCD projectors and document cameras in classrooms and professional development for classroom teachers.
“The grant will serve as a booster shot to accelerate the project throughout the county’s middle and high schools,” said Little. “Without the Golden LEAF grant, implementation on this large a scale would be next to impossible.”
The Friday Institute, a national leader in educational innovation and research, is helping the districts with teacher training and curriculum development.
“The project is about increasing student achievement,” said Little. “To do this, we have to build teacher capacity. Much of the partnership’s time and resources will be spent creating curriculum and training teachers on how to use technology effectively in the classroom.”
Through this effort, the three districts will strive to increase achievement, improve computer literacy and enhance student perception of school. The focus will be on creating SMART classrooms in the core subject areas for grades 6-12. The project leverages $1.1 million from the Gates Foundation.
“It will touch so many lives in the county and will have a tremendous impact on the students,” said Little. “The community will be proud to have made school technology a priority.” |
About the Golden LEAF Foundation
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Established in 1999, the Golden LEAF Foundation was created to manage one-half of North Carolina’s share of funds from the Master Settlement Agreement with tobacco companies.
Golden LEAF supports tobacco-dependent, economically distressed and/ or rural communities working to transition to more prosperous and stable economies.
Golden LEAF focuses grantsmaking in three areas: agriculture, job creation and retention, and workforce preparedness -- supplemented by grants in education and community assistance.
The Foundation has awarded 926 grants totaling more than $446 million since its inception.
To learn more about Golden LEAF or to apply for a grant, visit www.goldenleaf.org |
Questions about Golden LEAF?
Please contact Mark Sorrells at msorrells@goldenleaf.org.
Comments or feedback about our newsletter?
Please contact Jenny Tinklepaugh at jtinklepaugh@goldenleaf.org.
© 2010 Golden LEAF Foundation, Inc. All rights reserved. |
Message from the President
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 Even as we hope that economic recovery is dawning, we all know that there is much work to do. We must take every opportunity to help with the creation and expansion of jobs and investment, and to build the capacity of our most distressed communities to be economically competitive.
Last month, the Golden LEAF Foundation Board of Directors took bold action to seize such opportunities. The Foundation’s role is to transform communities to be economically competitive, and we will continue to maintain our level of funding, as well as look for initiatives that can leverage the momentum of positive change underway across the state. For the coming year, we will:
- Provide $24 million to serve as the major part of a match for the Golden LEAF Rural Broadband Initiative. This Initiative, led by MCNC, aims to leverage $78 million in federal broadband grants to provide middle-mile broadband across 69 counties and directly serve almost 200 community college campuses, universities, public school systems, public libraries, and emergency services providers. Without the Golden LEAF grant, this application would not be possible. Broadband access is a key part of North Carolina’s economic competitiveness strategy, especially in our rural communities.
- Strengthen our commitment to Tier One counties across North Carolina through our Community Assistance Initiative. This initiative has provided more than $39 million for education, workforce training, and economic development projects in 20 counties since 2007.
- Make available economic assistance for projects across North Carolina that create or add substantial jobs and investment by filling gaps that cannot be met by other sources of funding.
- Collaborate with other funders to provide the necessary private match for the U.S. Department of Education's Investing in Innovation grant program, targeting technology for instructional reform in math, science, and engineering in rural, public schools across the state. This builds on the Foundation’s investments in 1:1 technology, where each student works from his/her own laptop, in 26 districts across North Carolina.
- Award over $3 million for scholarships for children from rural counties, especially farm families, to attend college. The Foundation is also exploring providing internships for Golden LEAF Scholars for placements in their home communities.
- Maintain our Open Grants Program for proposals in agriculture, workforce development, and economic development projects across North Carolina.
- Cut the Foundation’s administrative budget for the third year in a row to be good stewards in tight times.
At the Golden LEAF Foundation, we are unwavering in our determination to provide support for projects that will help to grow jobs, strengthen communities and build the knowledge, talent and skill of North Carolinians.
As a beneficiary of Golden LEAF funding, you know the value that the Foundation’s resources can bring to your organization’s mission and programs. We appreciate your hard work and our partnership. Like you, we take the mission entrusted to us seriously. The Foundation is a great reason to be hopeful about the future of tobacco-dependent, economically distressed and rural counties.
We look forward to our continued work with you for the betterment of North Carolina.
Dan Gerlach can be contacted by e-mail at dgerlach@goldenleaf.org. |
Students, parents laud student laptop initiative
Golden LEAF awards funding for new technology
On April 14, 15 and 16, about 940 South Granville High School students in grades 9-12 received laptops thanks in large part to a Golden LEAF grant.
Pictured is Carl Schmidt Director of Technology for Granville County Schools unloading laptops for South Granville High Schools' laptop rollout event.
South Granville students and their parents came out in droves to attend training for laptop usage, sign waivers for acceptable use and view demonstrations of 21st century instruction.
Many students were accompanied by their entire family for the orientation session. Everyone was excited by the opportunity for all students to receive a laptop.
Pictured is senior Gabriell Thorne and her father, Richard Thorne, leaving the event with her new laptop.
Vanessa Wrenn, Technology Facilitator with Granville County Schools received extremely positive feedback from family members at the rollout event. According to Wrenn, "one student’s parent said, 'We can afford to get internet now that we don't have to purchase a computer.' Another said, 'Thank you very much for providing this opportunity for our family.'"
South Granville High School is part of a pilot initiative to create high performance schools that demonstrate effective teaching practices through the use of technology. An integral part of this initiative is the efficient use of technology in instruction. Under this instructional design, each student and teacher will have a computer for use during school and at home creating a "24/7" teaching and learning model.
As a part of South Granville’s Reform 2.0 Initiative, teachers will be able to instantaneously receive results of students’ performance and use the information for instructional design and intervention. Instructors will be able to tailor lessons during each class to meet individual and group needs. It is anticipated that this change in instruction will lead to higher student performance and create graduates who are career and college ready.
Pictured are students at work on individual laptops in a science class, the new norm for South Granville High School students, thanks in part to a Golden LEAF grant.
This initiative was made possible through the support of the Golden LEAF Foundation, SAS Institute, the New Schools Project, and the Friday Institute. These partners provided resources to purchase equipment and software and provided professional development for teachers and curriculum development support.
"The Granville County School System is excited by the unlimited possibilities that our partnership will bring to the students, teachers and the community at large,” said Granville County Schools Superintendent Timothy Farley. “Ultimately, our students will have the opportunity to compete on an international level for 21st century careers."
The purpose of the initiative is to prepare students for a new economy by equipping them with 21st century skills. This process is designed to make learning relevant and engaging and to help graduates be competitive in a global economy. |
| Upcoming Events |
Community Assistance Initiative
Greene County
Community Assistance Initiative - Community Forum
Date/Time:
May 11, 2010 - 6 pm
Location:
County Administration Building
Snow Hill, NC
Contact for Information:
Courtney Mills
cmills@goldenleaf.org
or
Pat Cabe
pcabe@goldenleaf.org
888-684-8404
Martin County
Community Assistance Initiative - Community Forum
Date/Time:
May 20, 2010 - 6 pm
Location:
NC TeleCenter
Williamston, NC
Contact for Information:
Courtney Mills
cmills@goldenleaf.org
or
Pat Cabe
pcabe@goldenleaf.org
888-684-8404
Bladen County
Community Assistance Initiative - Community Forum
Date/Time:
May 25, 2010 - 6 pm
Location:
Bladen Community College
Dublin, NC
Contact for Information:
Courtney Mills
cmills@goldenleaf.org
or
Pat Cabe
pcabe@goldenleaf.org
888-684-8404 |
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