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The Golden LEAF Board of Directors approved $2.975 million to support nine disaster recovery and two job creation projects. All together, these projects will assist five counties recovering from hurricane damage and help create 155 jobs.

The grant awards were announced Feb. 10.

The Disaster Recovery Grant Program is funded through appropriations by the State of North Carolina to the Golden LEAF Foundation to make grants to governmental entities and 501(c)(3) nonprofits to repair or replace infrastructure and equipment damaged or destroyed by Hurricanes Matthew, Florence, Michael and Dorian.

The Golden LEAF Board of Directors approved the five Disaster Recovery Grant Program projects for recovery from Hurricane Dorian on Ocracoke Island:

– $500,000 to Hyde County to construct a new EMS station on Ocracoke. The existing station was flooded by Hurricane Dorian.

– $125,000 to Hyde County to replace the trams used to support the passenger ferry. The trams were destroyed by floodwater on Ocracoke during Hurricane Dorian.

– $900,000 to the Hyde County Schools to support the repair and elevation of several buildings at the Ocracoke School campus. The school was flooded by Hurricane Dorian.

– $278,000 to the Ocracoke Foundation (Hyde County) to support the replacement of the main dock in the Community Square. The dock was destroyed during Hurricane Dorian.

– $277,400 to the Ocracoke Foundation (Hyde County) to support repair of the Ocracoke Seafood Company building. The building, maintained by the Ocracoke Foundation, was damaged during Hurricane Dorian.

Grants for recovery from Hurricane Florence were provided to the Bald Head Conservancy in Brunswick County; Pender County and Town of Swansboro in Onslow County.

An increase in an existing award of $70,164.92 for recovery from Hurricane Matthew was provided to Beaufort County.

The board also approved the two job creation projects:

– An economic catalyst program grant for the City of Hickory in Catawba County will construct publicly owned water infrastructure on a site for a corporation to bring 151 jobs to the county with a $50 million investment.

– An Open Grants Program for High County Community Health I Watauga County to renovate and expand the Watauga dental clinic which will create four full-time jobs and one part-time.

Over two decades, the foundation has funded 1,814 projects totaling $890 million. Golden LEAF’s 15-member Board of Directors is appointed by the governor, the president pro tempore of the Senate and the speaker of the House.

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