The Golden LEAF Foundation board of directors has awarded more than $4.2 million to address some of North Carolina's workforce needs in the aerospace industry through its Golden LEAF Opportunities for Work in Aerospace Manufacturing (GLOW-AM) Initiative.
"The Golden LEAF board of directors established the GLOW-AM Initiative to connect the aerospace industry's workforce needs with viable and sustainable job opportunities for North Carolinians," Dan Gerlach, Golden LEAF president, said.
"The foundation is interested in building the talent, knowledge and skill of citizens, especially in tobacco-dependent, economically distressed and rural communities, to take full advantage of available job opportunities like those in the aerospace industry."
Recently, Golden LEAF provided support to North Carolina's Eastern Region to complete a statewide workforce needs assessment for the state's emerging aerospace industry. In response to the findings, the foundation created the GLOW-AM initiative and requested proposals from training providers that address the workforce development challenges identified in the report. The projects funded in the initiative are designed to strengthen training capacities in regions of the state that have high concentrations of aerospace manufacturing companies and maintenance, repair and overhaul operations.
"North Carolina is gaining momentum in becoming a national leader in aerospace and aviation," Scott Ralls, president of the N.C. Community College System, said in a news release. "The grants from our partners at Golden LEAF mark a real step forward in reaching that goal and in providing the resources our selected colleges need to continue to create a high-quality aerospace workforce."
Lenoir Community College was awarded $380,000 for its LCC Aerospace Advanced Machining Center project. The project will assist LCC with developing an aerostructure manufacturing and repair technology program and enhance training capabilities for employment opportunities at Spirit AeroSystems and other composite and advanced manufacturing industries in the area.
A portion of the grant will be used for a part-time instructional position and to cover operating expenses for the mobile machining lab for more consistent delivery of educational outreach programs to area schools.
The Golden LEAF Foundation is a nonprofit organization established in 1999 to help transform North Carolina's economy. The foundation receives one-half of North Carolina's funds from the 1998 Master Settlement Agreement with cigarette manufacturers and places special emphasis on assisting tobacco-dependent, economically distressed and/or rural communities across the state.
The Golden LEAF Foundation works in partnership with governmental entities, educational institutions, economic development organizations and nonprofits to achieve its mission.
The foundation has awarded 847 grants totaling more than $399 million since its inception.