Vance-Granville Community College has received $750,000 in funding from the Golden LEAF Foundation to support the construction of its new Center for Advanced Manufacturing & Applied Technology (CAMAT). This major investment will strengthen workforce training programs aligned with regional industry needs and expand access to high-wage career pathways.
For over 25 years, the Golden LEAF Foundation has worked to increase economic opportunity in North Carolina’s rural and tobacco-dependent communities through leadership in grantmaking, collaboration, innovation, and stewardship. Golden LEAF’s Board of Directors announced the award to VGCC in its February 2026 board meeting.
“The Golden LEAF Foundation is pleased to support Vance-Granville Community College’s strategy to build a skilled workforce in high-demand fields,” said Golden LEAF President, Chief Executive Officer Scott T. Hamilton. “Workforce preparedness is a priority for Golden LEAF because it is one of the most direct ways to strengthen rural economies. The Center for Advanced Manufacturing & Applied Technology will build a workforce pipeline to help meet the evolving needs of employers across the region.”
The CAMAT is one of two major expansion projects currently underway at Vance-Granville Community College. Now in development at Triangle North Granville business park, this state-of-the-art facility will provide immersive, real-world learning experiences in areas such as industrial maintenance, electronics, mechatronics, HVAC, welding, and fabrication. Equipped with industry-standard technology and flexible instructional spaces, the Center will strengthen connections between students and employers, expand regional talent pipelines, and position VGCC as a leading driver of workforce readiness and economic growth across the region.
“Vance-Granville Community College is extremely appreciative of Golden LEAF’s investment in our role as workforce developer for our communities,” said VGCC President Dr. Rachel Desmarais. “By aligning training with high‑demand fields, we are supporting both students and the employers who depend on a skilled workforce.”
The VGCC Center for Advanced Manufacturing & Applied Technology is projected to open in early 2028. For additional information, please visit vgcc.edu/CAMAT.
About the Golden LEAF Foundation
The Golden LEAF Foundation is a nonprofit organization established in 1999 to receive a portion of North Carolina’s funding from the 1998 Master Settlement Agreement with cigarette manufacturers. Golden LEAF has worked to increase economic opportunity in North Carolina’s rural and tobacco-dependent communities through leadership in grantmaking, collaboration, innovation, and stewardship as an independent and perpetual foundation.
For more than 25 years, the Foundation has provided lasting impact to tobacco-dependent, economically distressed, and rural areas of the state. In fiscal year 2025, Golden LEAF helped create 1,665 jobs, more than $116 million in new payrolls, and more than 4,722 workers trained or retrained for higher wages.
For more information about Golden LEAF and its programs, please visit GoldenLEAF.org.
