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Press Release
Golden LEAF News - June 2010
Greetings!
The Golden LEAF Board of Directors awarded 27 grants totaling more than $8 million at its June meeting. These grant projects will assist with job creation, workforce preparedness, agri-biotechnology, access to healthcare, education, and tourism.
More than half of the award dollars went to projects from organizations participating in the Golden LEAF Community Assistance Initiative in Burke, Cleveland and Northampton counties. The Golden LEAF Community Assistance Initiative assists economically distressed counties with funding for projects that will help to stimulate economic activity or provide assistance in overcoming barriers to economic transition or community progress.
The Golden LEAF Foundation has an open door policy. Check out our Open Grants Program priorities and contact a Golden LEAF program officer with ideas to help strengthen tobacco-dependent, economically distressed or rural North Carolina communities.
Best,
Jenny
Jenny Tinklepaugh
Program/ Communications Officer
jtinklepaugh@goldenleaf.org
http://www.goldenleaf.org
Feature articles in this edition of "Golden LEAF News":
BIG checks, BIG help
Roanoke Rapids Daily Herald
The Golden LEAF Foundation presented Halifax County on Friday with $2.1 million in ceremonial checks for projects that support economic development, infrastructure and education efforts. The largest grant was awarded to the Roanoke Rapids Graded School District for a collaborative school technology effort between Roanoke Rapids Graded School District, Weldon City Schools and Halifax County Schools for $1,018,015. Other organizations receiving awards were Halifax County, the Haliwa Saponi Tribe, Halifax Community College, and the City of Roanoke Rapids.
Camden celebrates $2M LEAF grant
The Daily Advance
Golden LEAF presented Camden County Government with a ceremonial check for over $1.9 million to help spur economic development in a mostly residential community. The grant will support a water-sewer project for the Camden County Eco-Industrial Park north of South Mills along U.S. Highway 17.
‘Santa’ arrives early in Northampton
Roanoke-Chowan News-Herald
Christmas has come six months early in Northampton County. The Golden LEAF Foundation Board has awarded more than $1.5 million in grants to five projects through the Community Assistance Initiative Program. Organizations receiving funding were Northampton County Schools, Lake Gaston Community Center, Tri-County Airport Authority, North Carolina Center for Automotive Research (NCCAR), and Northampton County.
County awarded $2 million in grants
Whiteville News Reporter
Dan Gerlach, Golden LEAF president, played Santa Claus by awarding more than $2 million in grants to three local projects during a ceremony at the old Fair Bluff Elementary School on June 18. The largest grant of $1.75 million was awarded to Columbus County Schools for the Fair Bluff Career-Technical Academy, a new vocation school which is slated to open in time for the 2011-12 school year. The Academy will partner with Southeastern Community College to provide classes via the Continuing Education Division. The City of Whiteville and Columbus County also received grant funding.
Clearwater Paper to Create 250 Jobs in Cleveland County
Media NewsWire
Gov. Bev Perdue announced today that Clearwater Paper Corp. plans to invest $260 million and hire 250 workers over the next five years to build a new manufacturing and distribution facility in Shelby. The plant will make private-label tissue products for retail grocery chains throughout the Southeast and along the East Coast. Golden LEAF Foundation awarded a grant to help the county land the manufacturer.
County lands $3 million for job growth
Shelby Star
Thanks to Golden LEAF grants, Cleveland County’s economic opportunity is growing. The funding is going to three projects, which officials hope will lead to more jobs: the Foothills Commerce Center Job Ready building, the LeGrand Center on the campus of Cleveland Community College and another economic development project.
New school 'brings tears' to officials
Watauga Democrat
Watauga High School is changing locations to a newly completed facility. The new location will have an addition of wireless infrastructure and personal laptops. The Golden LEAF Foundation awarded $150,000 to support the implementation of technological aspects of the initiative.
Facility's completion has Spirit soaring
The Daily Reflector
Spirit AeroSystems held a ceremonial start of production and tour of the facility located in the Global TransPark near Kinston on Friday, July 1. The Golden LEAF Foundation board provided a $100 million grant to the Global TransPark Authority to build the Spirit facility. The company, in turn, plans to invest $100 million to build additional manufacturing facilities during the next six years and will hire 1,000 people for the Kinston facility during the next several years. The Global TransPark is leasing the facility to Spirit. Spirit is hiring assembly technicians, maintenance mechanics and individuals experienced in warehouse and supply management for the Kinston facility. Visit www.makeitfly.aero to find out more.
Golden opportunity -- Center to offer Lake Gaston residents educational resource
Lake Gaston Gazette
Thanks to a Golden LEAF Community Assistance Initiative grant, Lake Gaston Community Center will be able to add to its services by offering vocational education to the community through a planned outreach program in conjunction with Halifax Community College. The center hopes to offer training classes for construction, plumbing and electrical skills.
Drexel works on revitalizing itself
Morganton News Herald
The Golden LEAF Foundation awarded the Town of Drexel a Community Assistance Initiative grant to create a small-business incubator in the downtown area. The foundation works directly with towns to understand local priorities and challenges and come up with a priority list of plans for funding consideration. The town has partnered with the Small Business Center at the local community college, which has programs to help and encourage people who want to start a business. The goal for the business incubator is not only to revitalize the business climate in the town, but also give people a place to get their businesses off the ground and running and to create jobs.
RCC Receives Grants from Golden LEAF, Duke Energy, Others
Randolph Community College
The College received $200,000 in grant funding from the Golden LEAF Foundation through its Open Grants Program to acquire machining equipment for the college’s Machining Technology program. Several local manufacturers have indicated that the equipment would be vital in training future a future workforce. These new machines will allow students to train in areas of high-tech, advanced manufacturing.
County alliance to help retain tourism dollars
Roanoke Rapids Daily Herald
Thanks to a Golden LEAF Community Assistance Initiative grant, Halifax County organizations formed an unprecedented alliance. The City of Roanoke Rapids joined with six other municipalities, the Roanoke Avenue Business Alliance (RABA) and the Halifax County Convention and Visitors Bureau to channel Golden LEAF Foundation revitalization funds into the Valley. The goal of the collaborative is to have all seven Halifax County historic communities working together to promote economic revitalization in the county.
County works on special grant
Rockingham News
Golden LEAF started the Community Assistance Initiative in Rockingham County. Directors of non-profit agencies, county officials and concerned citizens recently gathered at Rockingham Community College to discuss what to do with a $2 million grant. This program was established to target communities with need and provide support for projects to make the lives of their citizens better.
Surry, Alleghany projects among others in line for grants from ARC
Winston-Salem Journal
Gov. Bev Perdue announced Thursday that 25 projects in Western North Carolina are being recommended to receive more than $5.7 million in funding from the Appalachian Regional Commission. ARC money will buy mobile computer carts for middle and high schools in Surry County and laptop computers in Watauga County. Both projects are also funded with Golden LEAF grants.
Unique facility to open in Colerain
Roanoke-Chowan News-Herald
The new Colerain Primary Care and Nutrition Center facility held an official groundbreaking. The 4,000-square foot facility will serve as the shared home of Colerain Primary Care and the Bertie County Council on Aging Nutrition Center in Colerain. The project is funded through grants from Golden LEAF’s Community Assistance Initiative and the American Recovery and Investment Act.
Local prawns on the move
Kinston Free Press
The American Prawn Cooperative, a Greene County-based organization, had a problem: It was producing great prawns, but could not get them to the markets where they could get the greatest value. The Golden LEAF Foundation contributed nearly $200,000 for research on live hauling the prawn to market.
Surry Community College opens new satellite campus (video)
News 14 Carolina
The Golden LEAF Foundation awarded Community Assistance Initiative grants to the town of Pilot Mountain to renovate a historic building and $800,000 to Surry Community College for operating costs of the Pilot Center and a new center in Elkin that's scheduled to open in the fall. The Pilot Center is one of two new Centers for Learning Education and Retraining. For more information on classes at the Pilot Center of Surry Community College, call (336) 444-8012.
Pilot Center of SCC opening Tuesday
Mount Airy News
The Pilot Center of Surry Community College will open its doors to the Pilot Mountain community on Tuesday. This is one of the two CLEAR Centers (Centers for Learning, Education, and Retraining) SCC will open as a result of a Golden LEAF grant obtained last year. As a satellite location for Surry Community College, the center will allow residents to obtain training to upgrade personal and professional skills and prepare them for the workforce.
Thumbs Up
Mount Airy News
The Pilot Center will house a satellite facility for Surry Community College classes and programs involving area residents, as well as assist farmers through the Pilot Mountain Pride organization so they can prepare their products for distribution and sale. Much time and money from Golden LEAF Foundation grants and other funding sources came together to renovate the former Amos and Smith building to make it usable for The Pilot Center.
Sheet Metal Wing Donated to Port Discover
College of the Albemarle
College of The Albemarle’s Aviation Sheet Metal class recently donated a handcrafted wing section to Port Discover in Elizabeth City to help demonstrate the importance of wind over the wing or “lift”. The Aviation Sheet metal class is one in a series of on-going classes that is aimed at training students about basic aviation sheet metal skills that relates to jobs within the area and has received support from the Golden LEAF Foundation. Classes are 7 weeks long and require no prior experience.
Students finish new program
Stanly News and Press
Students recently completed the first Heavy Equipment Operations Program offered at Stanly Community College (SCC). The two-semester training program students with trade knowledge and technical skills in the area of heavy equipment operations. The project received support from the Golden LEAF Foundation to offer a complete and fully accredited training program for entry-level heavy equipment operators.
Results and relationships key, funders say
Philanthropy Journal
Hosted by the Triangle chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, the Conversations with Funders event featured sessions with representatives of community foundations, private foundations, corporate funders and emerging philanthropists. With needs across the state outpacing funders' resources, the focus on stretching dollars goes beyond corporate foundations. Golden LEAF and other grant makers provided insight on choosing projects for funding.
Outer Banks Catch Meetings
Ahab’s Journal
Outer Banks Catch links Currituck, Dare, Hyde and Tyrrell Counties in their efforts to promote and sell local seafood locally. The program, funded by a Golden LEAF Local Foods Initiative grant, purposes to educate Outer Banks residents and visitors, the state, and the nation about fresh seafood, where to get it, and what is available at the Outer Banks.
Chatham schools' laptop program finishes 1st year (video)
News 14 Carolina
Thanks in part to a Golden LEAF grant, every Chatham County high school student was given a laptop of their own to use this school year as part of the school system’s 1:1 Laptop Initiative. The Golden LEAF grant helped purchase new laptops for students at Jordan-Matthews High School.
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