The Golden LEAF Foundation has awarded a new grant to NCGrowth. This grant, along with funds from the Kenan Institute, will allow NCGrowth to expand our programs into 13 counties in North Carolina’s Sandhills region: Anson, Bladen, Columbus, Cumberland, Harnett, Hoke, Lee, Montgomery, Moore, Richmond, Robeson, Sampson, and Scotland. Golden LEAF’s mission is to increase economic opportunity in North Carolina’s rural and tobacco-dependent communities through leadership in grantsmaking, collaboration, innovation, and stewardship as an independent and perpetual foundation.
The Foundation awards grants to 501(c)(3) nonprofits and governmental entities across North Carolina. Golden LEAF’s grantsmaking focuses on three priorities: agriculture, job creation and retention, and workforce preparedness. Projects that focus on other opportunities to support and develop economic strength in tobacco-dependent, economically distressed, and/or rural communities continue to be welcomed.
NCGrowth works with local/county/state government, economic development agencies, businesses, and other entities to promote positive regional economic development and job creation. These partnerships can take a variety of forms including: multi-disciplinary consultant teams; co-sponsorship of relevant workshops; direct technical assistance to companies; etc. The work products and services are custom designed to meet the needs of the client. Past projects have included feasibility studies, inventory systems, economic development planning, bilingual HR policies, marketing strategies, cost-benefit analysis, business retention and expansion reports, etc.
We are actively seeking new partners in the Sandhills! If you represent a community actively seeking economic development or if you know of a growing company that could benefit from some technical assistance, please contact us at NCGrowth@unc.edu.