The Golden LEAF Board of Directors voted to award funds for the following projects in the Lenoir, Jones, and Greene County areas:

• $50,000 to Greene County to prepare a parcel of land for industrial development, which will create new jobs.

• $1,500,000 to Lenoir County to extend water and sewer infrastructure for the Highway 70 Industrial Park. The project is anticipated to result in 500 new jobs with an average annual salary of $50,000.

• $1,000,000 to Lenoir Community College for training equipment and professional development to support a new regional Aviation Center for Excellence at the Global TransPark that will house aviation, aircraft maintenance, and advanced manufacturing programs. The college anticipates recruiting 80 students annually to be trained, earn industry credentials, and be eligible for jobs with aviation employers in the region. This project will be implemented in Lenoir, Jones, and Greene County schools.

“I’m thankful that Golden LEAF partners with us at the General Assembly to increase economic opportunity in Eastern North Carolina,” said Humphrey, “These funds are going to play a critical role in expanding our economy and creating new, good-paying jobs for the people in our community.”