Golden LEAF awards more than $2.5 million to help rural North Carolinians attend 4-year college
Golden LEAF Board, Staff present scholars with certificates at awards days
During May and June, the Golden LEAF Foundation Board and staff toured North Carolina presenting 4-year college scholarships to students from 61 rural counties. The Foundation awarded more than $2.5 million in scholarships to help 215 students attend North Carolina colleges and universities. Scholars will receive up to $12,000 over four years.
Charquavious Wright of Rocky Mount, a recent graduate of Nash-Rocky Mount Early College High School, will be attending North Carolina Agricultural and Technical University in the fall, thanks to the Golden LEAF Scholarship he received. He plans to major in engineering and support his community after graduation.
 Charquavious Wright of Rocky Mount (left) receives a Golden LEAF Scholarship certificate from Golden LEAF President Dan Gerlach.
"This award means that someone values my education just as much as I do," Wright said. "I never expected for someone coming from my background to be presented with such an opportunity. Thank you all for making a difference. I hope that this award enables me to prosper so that I may give to others, whether it is in earnings or knowledge.”
Golden LEAF Board members and staff attended ceremonies at 46 high schools across North Carolina to present Golden LEAF Scholars with their awards.
Tom Taft, Golden LEAF Board of Directors member, presented Travis Dunn of Grimesland with the Golden LEAF Scholarship to attend East Carolina University at the D.H. Conley awards ceremony in May. Dunn is a graduate of D.H. Conley High School and plans to become a doctor. He is an Eagle Scout and volunteers at his local Boy Scout camp.
 Golden LEAF Board of Directors member Tom Taft presents Travis Dunn of Greenville with a Golden LEAF Scholarship certificate.
"This scholarship means a whole lot to me," said Dunn. "Without
the scholarship paying for a lot of my expenses, it would be very difficult for me to attend school."
Several schools had multiple students receive scholarships. Six graduates of Kings Mountain High School received the Golden LEAF Scholarship. Together their awards total $72,000.
 Pictured are Golden LEAF Scholars from Kings Mountain High School: (back row from left) Ashley Cash, Brandie Penner, and Zachary Smith and (front row from left) Morgan Burns, Kristin "Savanna" Thomas and Michael Laney.
Ashley Cash is from Bessmer City. She is a recent graduate of Kings Mountain High school and is the first person in her family to graduate from high school and attend college. She will attend Gardner Webb in the fall and study psychology.
“Helping children is my passion in life,” Cash said.
Cash plans to become a counselor for abused children.
The Golden LEAF Scholarship for 4-year institutions also includes scholarships for students transferring from a North Carolina community college to a participating four-year, North Carolina college or university.
Zach Jones of Lumberton plans to transfer from Robeson Community College to UNC-Pembroke in the fall. He intends to major in Special Education with a concentration in biology and aspires to become a middle school teacher. He will also pursue a master’s degree in Professional School Counseling.
Jones has already inspired his parents to return to school. He said, his parents will now “pursue an education after thirty years of hard life.”
 Pictured is Zach Jones (center) with his parents. He is a transfer student from Robeson Community College who will be attending the University of North Carolina at Pembroke in the fall.
"It has been my experience that education changes things." Jones said. "I promise that I will work very hard to represent the integrity of your organization by continuing to soar scholastically and as a diligent future educator imparting the importance of education to my students.”
The Golden LEAF Scholarship program for four-year colleges and universities is administered through the North Carolina Education Assistance Authority. You can read more about the Golden LEAF Scholarship program by clicking here or visiting CFNC.org/goldenleaf. |
(From left) Dan Gerlach, Golden LEAF President; Joe Carr, Semprius CEO and President; Governor Bev Perdue and Representative Jim Crawford announce 256 jobs for Vance County.
Golden LEAF's $1.2 million grant helps grow Vance County jobs
Maker of solar panels will create 256 manufacturing positions over next 5 years
For a county which has double digit unemployment, the announcement of 256 highly skilled, technical jobs coming to the area is something to celebrate.
On July 20th, Governor Bev Perdue, along with the Golden LEAF Foundation and other state and local officials, announced that Semprius will be opening a pilot manufacturing plant in Henderson. Semprius plans to manufacture high efficiency, low-cost high concentration photovoltaic (HCPV) solar modules, which will be sold for commercial use.
Golden LEAF awarded more than $1.2 million in an Economic Catalyst grant to Vance County to purchase equipment that will be leased to Semprius. In return the company will hire 256 employees over 5 years at an average salary of $45,465 per year plus benefits. The current average county wage is $30,004.
Joe Carr, President and CEO of Semprius, Inc. said, "The Golden LEAF funds were instrumental in cementing the package for both the long-term and short-term future of the first manufacturing plant."
Part of the requirements of Golden LEAF's Economic Catalyst grants are that a company commit to new job creation and be considering other states for its location or expansion. Semprius was considering locations in Virginia, Michigan, Ohio and Florida. The company has plans to insure its staff of 30 to 60 by the end of its first year and eventually employ 256 over the next five years.
"We fought hard to keep Semprius in North Carolina," said Bill Edwards, President of the Vance County Chamber of Commerce. "We're a previously tobacco-dependent county working hard to replace jobs lost due to the decline of tobacco. Golden LEAF has been a great tool not only on this venture but for other counties in a similar position. The Foundation is a great part of the team that North Carolina has assembled to help recover from tobacco losses."
The start-up company has recently been backed through a partnership with Siemans. Siemans is the largest supplier of renewable energy products and services in the world and is now a strategic partner and supplier for Semprius.
"They (Siemans) will be an immediate customer," said Carr.
Semprius builds its HCPV modules using novel processes that combine extremely tiny solar cells with low-cost, efficient optics, and improve long-term reliability and performance. Semprius also utilizes an automated manufacturing process, leveraging standard manufacturing equipment and commodity materials to dramatically reduce capital and labor costs.
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N.C. Governor Bev Perdue (right) announces that PGW will create 260 manufacturing jobs in Surry County. Officials involved in the announcement include (from left) N.C. Secretary of Commerce Keith Crisco, Golden LEAF President Dan Gerlach, Elkin Mayor Lestine Hutchens, Surry County Commission Chairman Paul Johnson and Gov. Bev Perdue.
Golden LEAF awards Surry County over $2 million to create 260 jobs
Automotive glass company chose rural NC location over 88 other possible sites
In April, the Golden LEAF Foundation awarded a $2,045,000 grant to Surry County to help locate a glass manufacturing facility to Elkin where it will create 260 new jobs. The company, Pittsburgh Glass Works (PGW), LLC, is a leading supplier of automotive glass products for original aftermarket glass services.
Golden LEAF’s grant will allow Surry County to purchase equipment that it will lease to PGW. PGW will locate a new manufacturing plant in an existing building in the Town of Elkin and will create 260 full time positions within three years paying an average wage of $30,608 plus benefits, which is above the County’s average.
“This project wouldn't be happening, if it wasn't for Golden LEAF," said Todd Tucker, president of Surry County EDC. "The number of jobs committed and the $85 million investment makes this the largest economic development project in years."
“Pittsburgh Glass Works considered 88 sites throughout the United States before deciding to locate in North Carolina,” Gov. Bev Perdue said. “There is no doubt that our investments continue to pay off.”
The company has already begun the process of completing infrastructure improvements to its future manufacturing facility in Elkin. While the company will not be producing until the new year, PGW will be hiring a few key people and the machinery that has been ordered will be coming in soon, said Tucker.
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Message from the
President
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Dan Gerlach
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I hope that this finds you well after the earthquake, hurricanes, drought and floods that have all marked the summer of 2011 in North Carolina. Our resiliency is being tested once again, but we will not waver.
In similar fashion, the Golden LEAF Foundation remains committed to its mission of economic transformation. Frankly, we need to help build the strengths of our people, especially our young people, from the economically distressed, rural and tobacco-dependent areas of North Carolina and then help provide opportunities for them to use these strengths in their home communities.
To that end, this issue of LEAF Lines describes an innovative program at Columbia High School in Tyrrell County to expand and improve training for agriculture jobs in the future in that area.
Some graduates of that program, and from other rural counties across the state, may become one of our Golden LEAF Scholars, which you can read about in depth. We funded 215 four-year scholarships this year to students in 61 counties who have deep connections to their home communities and who show interest in returning to rural North Carolina after graduation. Young people like these scholars will be the some of the best economic development tools we have to grow the economy.
But education alone does not result in jobs. It is necessary, but not always sufficient. This issue also tells tales of innovative small business opportunities provided by Blue Ridge Food Ventures in western North Carolina, as well as Golden LEAF assistance provided through Economic Catalyst grants to help manufacturers grow and relocate to two of the state’s Tier One counties with double-digit unemployment, Surry and Vance.
In short, human capital plus job opportunities equals success. I hope you enjoy reading about that equation in this issue of LEAF Lines, and look forward on reporting more successes in months to come.
Dan Gerlach can be contacted by
e-mail at dgerlach@goldenleaf.org. |
Blue Ridge Food Ventures cultivates careers in food-related industry
Incubator provides a myriad of equipment and services to support farmers and food entrepreneurs
Food entrepreneurs, mostly from Western North Carolina, have received help from Blue Ridge Food Ventures (BRFV), a nonprofit food business incubator. BRFV combines support for small businesses and agriculture to help grow North Carolina's economy one company at a time. The Golden LEAF has supported these efforts through two grants totaling $300,000 since BRFV's inception in 2005.
The 11,000-square-foot shared-use food business incubator is located on the Enka campus of Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College. The incubator provides services to those wishing to start or grow small businesses in the food industry and to local farmers who want to add value to their products through processing in an FDA-inspected kitchen. The Golden LEAF grants have provided BRFV with technical and marketing assistance, specialty equipment, and facility upgrades and maintenance assistance.
The incubator has helped one couple become self-employed. Tom Gallo and Susan Devitt of Asheville lost their jobs in 2009, due to the economic downturn.
While figuring out their next steps, the couple decided to take a class called "how to start a food business" at A-B Tech. Mary Lou Surgi, BRFV Executive Director, taught the 6-week class that covers all of the basics of starting a food business from laws and licensing to marketing and production. The two also were given a tour of the BRFV facility and provided information on its services.
The couple decided to open a business making and selling organic pizza kits. They sold their first kits in May 2010 and have already added gluten-free and low-sodium pizza kit options to their inventory.
Tom Gallo and Susan Devitt (pictured above) often provide in- store demonstrations of how to make a pizza with the Pizza Kit.
"We started selling at tailgate and farmers markets," said Devitt, co-owner of GalloLea Organics, LLC. "Our growth has been fairly quick, moving into retail such as Earth Fare, Whole Foods, specialty and wine shops."
"Our business plan and growth holds BRFV as vital to our ability to grow and stay in business," Devitt said. "I don't know how we would have done it without BRFV."
Jeanette and Frank Wilson owner/ operators of Hominy Valley Farms - Land and Cattle in Candler are part of a family who have farmed in Buncombe County for generations. Their once tobacco-producing land now boasts organic vegetables and pasture-raised cattle and chickens.
The Wilson family farm is less than 5 miles from the BRFV facility. One day, Jeanette Wilson said she just dropped by the facility, knocked on the door and asked Surgi what BRFV does. She found a great resource that has provided value to her family's operation.
Pictured are (from left) Nathan and Anthony Wilson (sons), Jeanette Wilson, Levi (grandson) and Frank Wilson, part of the Wilson's large family that has run the family farm for generations.
"We use the walk-in freezer to store beef and the walk-in cooler for our pasture-raised chickens," Wilson said.
They hope to eventually get freezer capacity on the farm, but for now, the BRFV facilities fit their needs. The Wilsons also use a cage area at BRFV to store products they use in their home delivery service. Wilson reported that her beef and home delivery sales have really picked up since working with BRFV.
Wilson said that since she has resumed responsibility for promotions at the farm, some of the workshops BRFV offers on marketing have provided sound advice.
"Without BRFV, we would have been significantly limited in our ability to grow our business," Wilson said. "I can't imagine what we would do without this facility at this time. It has been a blessing that we could hardly replace."
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Golden LEAF awards grant to build Tyrrell County ag workforce
Program starts this fall at area high school
At the Golden LEAF Foundation's June Board meeting, Tyrrell County Schools received a $446,300 Golden LEAF Community Assistance Initiative grant to help build a highly skilled workforce to support agriculture enterprises in the area.
"Agriculture industries are major employers in our county," said Marcia Manning, Columbia High School and Columbia's Early College High School principal, "and this initiative will allow us to train our students for the skilled jobs available within this industry."
Agriculture is changing rapidly at the infusion of technology. To keep pace, ag companies need workers trained in the latest technological advances.
"The agriculture industry is no longer about cows, sows and plows," Manning said. "Agricultural mechanics is a job pathway providing students with training in welding, electrical systems, and small engine repair."
The Golden LEAF grant will support Tyrrell County Schools in the creation of an Agricultural Mechanics and Horticulture Program at Columbia High/ Early College High School. The program will equip students with skills in research, marketing, welding, mechanics, horticulture, landscape design, sod/ turf grass cultivation, and small engine repair.
Although the program was just funded in June, the school will be ready to start classes this fall.
"This summer we have been working to renovate our existing space, creating areas for welding, small engine repair, and woodworking," Manning said. "We have awarded bids to build a greenhouse and a storage building as well, and look to have this program fully operational within the next few weeks."
The agriculture program will replace an existing Career and Technical Education program and is supported by other community partners, including the Vernon James Research and Extension Center, where students will be able to receive supervised agricultural experiences and applied learning opportunities.
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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.
© 2011 Golden LEAF Foundation, Inc. All rights reserved
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