The Golden Leaf Foundation’s board of directors awarded last week funding for six projects affecting Triad and northwest North Carolina communities.
The largest is $1.5 million to the Wilkes Economic Development Corp. for clearing, grubbing, grading and erosion control on 22 acres in Wilkes Industrial Park. The funds come from Golden Leaf’s statewide SITE program.
The program offers resources to help communities identify potential sites for economic development, provides funding to complete due diligence on publicly controlled sites, and funding to extend public utilities to publicly controlled sites, or to conduct clearing and rough grading of publicly owned sites.
The county projects that the Wilkes Industrial Park infrastructure improvements could lead to new industrial investments creating 40 new full-time jobs, $8 million in private capital investment and $1.8 million in public investment.
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“The need for industrial sites, especially in rural areas, is no longer a luxury, but a necessity to meet demand,” Golden Leaf chairman Ralph Strayhorn said in a statement. “We are excited to see how these projects will help prepare counties for new and expanding companies in North Carolina.”
Randolph County received a $400,000 grant toward public road improvements on the site of a planned 1.7 million-square-foot Ross Stores Inc. distribution center in Randleman. The board provided in 2022 a $1 million grant for extending sewer to the site.
The national off-price retail apparel chain Ross Stores said May 28 it will create 852 jobs in Randleman as part of a $450 million capital investment for a Southeastern region distribution center off Interstate 74 and U.S. 311.
The company’s ninth distribution center, with warehousing, fulfillment and packing operations, will be on 330 acres.
Jamestown received $769,000 from the foundation’s flood mitigation program that will be used toward construction and engineering expenses to replace the current infrastructure with larger pipes at O’Neil Drive, Royal Road and Wiltshire Drive.
Those areas experience frequent flooding as a result of undersized culverts and infrastructure that do not allow for sufficient flow during rain events.
Nonprofit groups in Alamance, Guilford and Wilkes counties are receiving funds from Golden Leaf’s Food Distribution Assistance program.
Southern Alamance Family Empowerment Inc. gained $93,000 to purchase an additional refrigerated truck and two pallet jacks.
One Step Further Inc, in Guilford received $23,144 toward higher-than-expected costs for an existing project.
Samaritan Kitchen of Wilkes Inc. gained $2,719 to purchase a glass door refrigerator.
Funds may be used for grants to nonprofit organizations to assist organizations in becoming eligible to be partner agencies of an N.C. food bank, or enhancing or expanding the capacity of current partner agencies of N.C. food banks.
Funds also may be used for grants to nonprofit organizations to assist organizations in establishing a school-based weekend food assistance program, or enhancing or expanding the capacity of current school-based weekend food assistance programs.
Read More: Golden Leaf provides funds for 6 Triad, northwest NC grants