ROCKY MOUNT – Scott Hamilton, executive director of the Appalachian Regional Commission, is the new president of the Golden LEAF Foundation.

The selection was announced early Thursday. He is the third president of the economic development group in its 20 years of operation which has made nearly $1 billion in grants to a wide variety of efforts across the state, including the state-wide fiber-based North Carolina Research and Education Network operated by MCNC.

“I am honored to have been selected as the next president of Golden LEAF – to continue the important work the Foundation was tasked with 20 years ago: providing rural North Carolina with funding for infrastructure, education and job training to give communities the needed support to educate their local workforce, attract jobs, and grow their local economies” said Hamilton in the announcement.

“Through the partnerships and programs already in place, I am excited for Golden LEAF to continue helping rural North Carolina create better futures for its residents in the years ahead.”

Hamilton, who is from Hendersonville, is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. He has led the Allalachian Regional Commission since 2014. That group  is a federal-state partnership which is involved in economic development across Appalachia, including 29 counties in western NC. He also has served as CEO of AdvantageWest, another regional economic development group based in western NC.

“The Board of Directors is fortunate to have the leadership of Scott Hamilton to help guide the organization as we seek additional opportunities to help North Carolina’s rural communities grow and prosper,” said Board Chair Randy Isenhower. “During Golden LEAF’s 20 year history, we have seen North Carolina transform into a top-tier economy. Instead of leaving rural North Carolina behind, organizations like Golden LEAF and our many partners, have worked to ensure these communities are able to draw industries and create jobs. Scott joins Golden LEAF at the right time to help the organization continue our important work for North Carolina.”

The foundation selected Raleigh-based Elinvar to help lead its search for a new president following the recent departure of Dan Gerlach who left to become the interim chancellor at East Carolina University.