Most of the grants awarded were associated with the Community Assistance Initiative, which provides money for projects in Tier 1 counties like Robeson County, which is the largest county geographically in the state and has the highest poverty rate in the state.
“We had several meetings in Robeson County with everyone who wanted to attend, where education, health care and economic assistance came up,” said David Stephenson, one of 15 Golden LEAF board members and a Robeson County native. “We focused on those three areas and came up with these projects that hit those needs for Robeson County.”
The projects that will receive funding are:
— $550,000 for St. Pauls for a sewer extension to the I-95 Industrial Park.
This project was No. 1 on Robeson County’s list of recommended projects for funding. The estimated cost of the project is $700,000.
“The town of St. Pauls appreciates the validation by Golden LEAF in its recognition of this project’s value for all of Robeson County,” said Stuart Turille, the town’s administrator. “The award will contribute significantly to the economic growth of the county for the next 50 years.”
— $600,000 for the construction of a multi-purpose pavilion at the Southeastern Agricultural Center/Farmers Market, just outside of Lumberton.
Golden LEAF also reserved $300,000, to be matched by $50,000 from the Robeson County and $50,000 from Lumberton, for stables at the multi-purpose facility.
Stables for the pavilion was the No. 2 project recommended by the county for Golden LEAF funding. About $3.7 million is already earmarked in the state Department of Agriculture’s budget for the construction of a complex that among other things will be suitable for equestrian events.
County Manager Ken Windley said that the funding “hopefully” provides the last money needed to complete the multi-purpose pavilion and provide for stables.
“I am absolutely happy,” he said. “We got all that we asked for.”
Windley added that having stables at the pavilion is essential for equestrian events.
“Without stables, equestrian events cannot be held,” he said. “Without stables, people will not bring their horses here.”
— $350,000 for the Robeson County CDC.
The funds will be used for the Rowland Business and Community Center in Rowland to renovate a building in the downtown for job training and employment opportunities for residents. Basic skill classes that are offered by Robeson Community College in Rowland will be moved into the renovated building.
“We’re honored that the Golden LEAF Foundation chose Rowland as one of the recipients; we feel that Rowland is a deserving town,” Mayor Elizabeth Hunt said. “We hope that the building will transform the area to benefit the youth, partnerships with Robeson Community College and adult education ... .”
— $500,000 for Robeson Community College for advanced manufacturing facilities and equipment for workforce training.
The money will be used to renovate Building 12. The renovations will allow for new labs that will offer classes in new basic industrial skills.
“We are extremely pleased with this news. It will help us teach the people of our community the new basic skills, including electricity and electronics, fluid power systems, mechanical systems, and industrial computer controls and how to use all of that in an integrated way,” RCC President Charles Chrestman said. “This will be a great addition to the college, especially after the opening of the new Workforce Development Center.”
— $500,000 for Southeastern Regional Medical Center for a mobile medical clinic.
The money will be used to purchase a vehicle and primary care services for adults and children to Robeson County residents living in outlying and medically under-served areas of the county for two years, said Sissy Grantham, executive director of the Southeastern Regional Medical Center Foundation.
“It will help increase access to health care,” said Reid Caldwell, vice president of Outpatient and Ambulatory Services. “It will allow the hospital to take medical services out from the hospital to rural, under-served areas of Robeson County. That will be more convenient for patients to access health care, and hopefully in the long run it will decrease the incidence of disease in those (communities), and in turn hopefully decrease emergency room visits.”
Once the mobile unit is purchased, staffed, and a service route is determined, it will begin serving rural Robeson County, Grantham said.
— $140,000 for the Learning Acceleration Program in the Public Schools of Robeson County.
The program helps to increase the county’s graduation rate through tutoring and special counseling of students who are at-risk of dropping out of school.
The Foundation also approved a $25,000 grant for the Wesley Pines Expanded Therapy Program. The money will pay for equipment needed to expand services, hire more staff, and move some facility employees from part-time to full-time status.
State Rep. Ronnie Sutton provided the information in a statement. He said he lobbied Golden LEAF Foundation members in support of funding for the projects.
“This grant money will help to provide the citizens of Robeson County with new facilities and much needed services,” he said. “These projects get at the key issues of jobs, education, worker training and health care in our county.”
— Staff writers Amy Banton and Sara Hottman contributed to this report.
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