Deadline: 24-Jun-21
The Golden LEAF Foundation has launched an Open Grants Program for Economic Development projects in the priority areas of Job Creation and Economic Investment; Workforce Preparedness; Agriculture; and Community Competitiveness, Capacity, and Vitality.
Priority Area Outcomes
Below are the quantitative outcomes identified for each priority area used to measure the success of a project in achieving the mission of the Golden LEAF Foundation. Competitive applications will typically include projections for one or more of these measures to assess project success. Priority is given to projects that support North Carolina’s tobacco-dependent, economically distressed, and/or rural communities.
- Job Creation And Economic Investment: Collaborate with EDPNC, N.C. Department of Commerce, local governments, and organizations to provide funding to assist with job creation.
- Investment in publicly owned infrastructure
- Investment in privately owned property, plant, and equipment
- New full-time jobs created
- Average annual wage of new full-time jobs
- Business start-ups
- Workforce Preparedness: Increase the number of qualified individuals with skills aligned with current and future needs of North Carolina businesses. Prepare students with the technical and life skills necessary to enter work.
- Increase in students completing at least one curriculum program in the area funded.
- Increase in students completing at least one continuing education course or program in the area funded.
- Increase in students earning at least one industry/third party certification, license, or other credential (non-academic) in the area funded.
- Increase in students completing CTE pathways in the area funded.
- Increase in students participating in work-based learning.
- Increase in students receiving meaningful exposure and opportunities to explore local career opportunities.
- Agriculture: Support agriculture as a means of promoting economic development.
- Number of participants at agricultural trainings
- New publications directed towards farmers
- Monthly use of agricultural facilities that benefit farmers
- Community Competitiveness, Capacity, And Vitality: Support other opportunities to promote economic development through critical infrastructure and employment of health care professionals.
- Investment in public infrastructure
- Number of homes, businesses, and institutions served by new broadband access
- Number of rural leaders receiving training or coaching
- Number of people employed in targeted fields
Priority Communities
Golden LEAF accepts applications from all communities in North Carolina; however, funded projects must benefit tobacco-dependent, economically distressed, and/or rural communities. Applicants can strengthen their proposals by identifying the direct positive effect(s) the project will have on those target communities.
Eligibility Criteria
- Only 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations and governmental entities can apply.
For more information, visit https://www.goldenleaf.org/grant-seekers/open-grants-program/