Johnston Community College Lands $499,245 Workforce Training Grant

SMITHFIELD, N.C. — Johnston Community College will receive nearly $500,000 to launch a new respiratory therapy degree program, part of $16.7 million in funding approved Aug. 6 by the Golden LEAF Foundation for projects across North Carolina.

The Golden LEAF Board of Directors awarded $499,245 to Johnston Community College for specialized equipment and instructional technology needed to establish an Associate in Applied Science degree in Respiratory Therapy.

The funding was awarded through Golden LEAF’s Open Grants Program, which supports projects aimed at job creation, economic investment and workforce preparedness.

JCC’s grant was one of four Open Grants awards approved totaling approximately $1.75 million. The other recipients are located in Cumberland, Richmond and Onslow counties.

The Johnston County award is specifically aimed at workforce preparation by giving JCC the equipment and technology needed to train students for careers in respiratory therapy.

Respiratory therapists work with patients who have difficulty breathing because of chronic respiratory diseases and other medical conditions. They also provide respiratory care to patients in emergency and critical-care settings.

Golden LEAF President and CEO Scott T. Hamilton said the projects approved by the board are intended to create long-term economic opportunities and strengthen North Carolina’s workforce.

“The projects approved by the Board today demonstrate the importance of having a funding strategy that creates lasting economic opportunity,” Hamilton said. “From supporting entrepreneurs and strengthening agriculture to preparing industrial sites and building new training programs, these projects will grow the skilled workforce, support the agricultural economy, and help create jobs, especially in rural North Carolina.”

Overall, Golden LEAF approved $16.7 million during its August meeting. The largest award was $10 million to NC IDEA to establish a program supporting entrepreneurs and small businesses in rural North Carolina. Other funding included agriculture initiatives, industrial site development and economic development projects.

The Golden LEAF Foundation was established in 1999 using a portion of North Carolina’s proceeds from the tobacco Master Settlement Agreement. The organization focuses much of its grant funding on rural, economically distressed and tobacco-dependent communities.

Since its creation, Golden LEAF has funded 2,399 projects totaling approximately $1.5 billion across North Carolina.