Golden Leaf funds Twin Counties workforce partnership

ROCKY MOUNT — A workforce training program giving students experience through local internships will launch in Nash and Edgecombe counties with the help of a $200,000 Golden Leaf Foundation grant.

The foundation has awarded Open Grants Program funding to the Strategic Twin Counties Education Partnership. The $200,000 grant will support staff salary, program-related marketing and outreach and participant support for a pilot local internship program that facilitates collaboration among school districts, community colleges, community-based organizations and employers in Nash and Edgecombe counties.

STEP plans to link 45 individuals to a work-based learning opportunity over the two-year grant period, according to a Golden Leaf Foundation news release. The program will provide ongoing support to participating students and businesses throughout the internship experience and into employment.

WHITAKERS INDUSTRIAL PARK

The Strategic Twin Counties Education Partnership grant is part of $14.27 million in funding approved during the Golden Leaf Board of Directors’ June meeting. Nash County is set to receive $34,000 from the organization to conduct site planning work at the Whitakers Business and Industry Center.

That money was approved in a $266,100 funding package for six SITE Program – Due Diligence projects. Grants are used to complete eligible due diligence activities such as environmental assessments, archaeological analyses and mapping.

FOOD DISTRIBUTION

The Golden Leaf board approved a $141,500 grant for a new project in the Food Distribution Assistance Program and $937,551.59 in additional FDAP funding to support 23 existing projects.

Bountiful Blessings House of Redemption in Greene County will buy a box truck, cargo van, two pallet jacks, refrigerated container, electrical upfit for refrigerated container, two commercial refrigerators, tables, shelves and carts with its $141,500 award. One nonprofit each in Nash, Edgecombe and Wilson counties received a share of the nearly $1 million in extra allocations.

A Touch of the Father’s Love Inc. in Nash County was awarded $34,736.85 to buy and install new cold storage equipment. Tarboro Community Outreach Inc. received a $22,961.32 funding increase. And $19,800 was approved for Wilson Youth United Inc.

The state of North Carolina appropriated $10 million to the Golden Leaf Foundation to administer the Food Distribution Assistance Program. This program is funded by federal State Fiscal Recovery Funds through the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

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