Tyrrell County Manager David Clegg discussed a new Community Based Grants Making Initiative from the Golden LEAF Foundation in the Tyrrell County Board of Commissioners Oct. 1 meeting.

“They have stepped up with all the things happening with the Rural Center,” said Clegg.

Clegg mentioned that the Foundation wanted an idea of what the county wanted for grant projects.

Clegg said that Martin County is going to participate in the project. Bertie has not decided, Washington was looking into it, and Hyde County already had some projects that they would like to try.

“What has stirred the pot in terms of people talking about it, is don’t be surprised if other groups come here and want some of our allocation. I have already been given wind that that could occur,” said Clegg.

Clegg mentioned a pilot extraction project in Martin County, which would be for patented plant technologies associated with a facility in Martin County.

“ They appear to be $2 million dollars short of what they might need,” said Clegg.

Clegg asked the Board for specifics about what projects they were interested in pursuing.

Commissioner Thomas Spruill mentioned that the last round of Golden LEAF funds awarded to Tyrrell County focused on health care.

“So that would be out for us, would it not?” said Spruill.

Commissioners Leroy Spivey and Nathan Everett discussed how to effectively market agriculture in the county.

“Basically what we have been talking about with our County Extension Director is creating a campus for NC State’s Extension Service that would include a farmers market, a certified kitchen, and facilities for livestock shows,” said Everett.

Everett mentioned that the campus would not be on the same level as the Bob Martin Agricultural Center in Williamston.

“If we had a building that we could dedicate for that sort of thing and have those facilities in it, it could possibly be somewhere adjacent to Tyrrell Hall,” said Everett.

Spivey mentioned that a building of that nature could have regional benefits for counties like Hyde and Washington.

Everett said that the building would serve a variety of purposes.

“It would get the Extension Service out of the flood area and consolidate their services in one location. It would then enhance some of the local business people who are trying to market their stuff,” he said.

Everett mentioned drainage needs in the county that needed addressed.

Commissioner Larry Hill outlined emergency services needs in the area.

“We often sit here and talk about our emergency room as sitting out there in the parking lot.  My thinking was that if there was a way that we could get housing for those vehicles since we are in a remote area.  Health care needs are supposed to be at the top of our list,” said Hill.

Clegg and the Board discussing how something like housing could fall under multiple grant classification categories.

“Sewer and drainage needs are near the top of the list out of all the things that have been mentioned,” said Commissioner Thomas Spruill.

Dan Gerlach, President of the Golden LEAF Foundation gave more background on the Foundation’s new initiative.

“We are entertaining a slate of proposals from every county in the Northeast. People are eligible to say how some projects that need funding help the foundation reach its mission in our county.  There is $10 million set aside for the twenty counties so not everyone will get funded.  It is a chance to get money for major projects,” said Gerlach.
As a slate a county should not have more than three projects.

“We are really looking at major projects to move the needle in the Northeast Region.The Northeast Prosperity Zone is really at the sweet spot of what we are supposed to be doing,” said Gerlach.

Gerlach said that the benefit for counties is that there is not going to be as long a waiting process.

“For other initiatives, there are various meetings that people have to go through.  There is going to be more of traditional grant-making type strategy.  What I mean by this is you have a slate, you turn in your work up front and you move on from there,” he said.

The initiative begins on October 15 and has a three-stage process.

“If you are a county and you want to participate, we have chosen to keep the locus of this at the county level. So the county managers have the benefit to trying to arrange a slate of proposals.  The county managers are not necessarily the ones that are going to be carrying this projects out, but they are looking at what is hot, ready to go and needs a good chunk of change,” said Gerlach.

The Foundation is looking at cap amounts on grants of about $1.5 million dollars in the successful counties.

“On October 15, the counties if they want to participate, they just give a slate of here is what we are thinking.  Then the Golden LEAF staff will by November 8th go and tell people, whether they are invited to go to the next round or not.  If you go to the next round, you get to submit draft proposals.  After the successful draft proposal there is a full proposal,” said Gerlach.