December 22, 2022
SITE Program
During the strategic planning process, the Golden LEAF Board identified gaps in available funding to support site development necessary to attract businesses, especially to rural and economically distressed areas. In response to these findings, the SITE Program was designed to support the identification, preparation, and development of sites to attract quality jobs to these communities.
The SITE Program was launched with a budget of $10 million for the program. At the June 2022 Board meeting, the Golden LEAF Foundation Board of Directors increased the SITE Program from $10 million to $15 million.
Organizations can begin the process at any of the three phases, and a site may progress from identification through to development over time.
- SITE Program – Identification support to identify potential industrial sites in communities that do not currently have quality industrial sites to market.
- SITE Program – Due diligence funding to complete eligible due diligence activities such as environmental assessments, archeological analyses, and mapping.
- SITE Program – Development funding for public infrastructure and, for publicly owned sites, clearing and rough grading, to benefit sites that have completed the due diligence necessary to demonstrate that the site is suitable for development.
At the June 2022 meeting, the Golden LEAF Board awarded $5 million for 13 projects through the Golden LEAF SITE Program in Columbus, Cumberland, Duplin, Martin, Moore, Nash, Onslow, Person, Robeson, Rutherford, Stokes, Surry, and Wilkes counties. At the December 2022 meeting, the Golden LEAF Board awarded $5.8 million for 10 projects through the Golden LEAF SITE Program in Caldwell, Duplin, Forsyth, Nash, Randolph, Rockingham, Sampson, Stanly, and Warren counties.
The next round of SITE Program funding will open in early 2023. Click here to receive updates and here to learn more about the SITE Program.
Flood Mitigation Program
The State of North Carolina provided $25 million to the Golden LEAF Foundation to award funds to units of local government for public infrastructure projects for flood mitigation.
Golden LEAF launched the Flood Mitigation Program in January 2022. To date, the Golden LEAF Board of Directors has awarded $6.2 million for 31 projects located in Beaufort, Bladen, Brunswick, Buncombe, Burke, Chatham, Chowan, Columbus, Craven, Currituck, Dare, Duplin, Forsyth, Granville, Harnett, Haywood, Iredell, Johnston, Lenoir, Pasquotank, Pender, Perquimans, Robeson, Sampson, Stanly, and Wake counties.
Up to $250,000 may be awarded per project. Funds may only be awarded to units of local government. Local governments from all 100 counties are eligible. For purposes of this program, units of local governments include counties and cities and their boards, agencies, commissions, authorities, and institutions.
Eligible projects include the following:
- Construction of new or improvement of existing publicly owned stormwater infrastructure, including natural drainage infrastructure and flood control equipment.
- Repair of existing stormwater infrastructure damaged or destroyed by flooding, which must include improvements to mitigate against future flooding.
- Engineering expenses related to planning and development of flood mitigation solutions.
Learn more about the Flood Mitigation Program by clicking here.
Food Distribution Assistance Program
The N.C. General Assembly appropriated $10 million to Golden LEAF for the Food Distribution Assistance Program. This program is funded by federal State Fiscal Recovery Funds through the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
The Food Distribution Assistance Program launched November 1, 2022, with a Pre-Application. The Pre-Application is a required first step for all organizations interested in seeking funding in the Food Distribution Assistance Program.
Food Distribution Assistance Program funds may be used for the following:
- Grants to nonprofit organizations to assist those organizations in (i) becoming eligible to be partner agencies of a North Carolina food bank or (ii) enhancing or expanding the capacity of current partner agencies of North Carolina food banks.
- Grants to nonprofit organizations to assist those organizations in (i) establishing a school-based weekend food assistance program or (ii) enhancing or expanding the capacity of current school-based weekend food assistance programs.
Golden LEAF Foundation expects that applications will exceed funds available for this program.
- Funds will be used to address a clearly defined gap in existing food assistance networks.
- Outcomes will be clear, measurable, and reportable. (Evaluation may continue after project completion.)
The final Pre-Application window will reopen in early 2023. Sign up for email updates to be notified of the dates. The first awards through the Food Distribution Assistance Program are expected to be made in August 2023.