On the road again

Golden LEAF president Dan Gerlach has only been on the job since Oct. 1, but he's already logged 5,000 miles on his car - and signed a pretty impressive document.

Gerlach was in Kinston on Thursday to visit Spirit AeroSystems, one of the true success stories that Golden LEAF has helped produce in the state.

The Golden LEAF Foundation is a non-profit organization established in 1999 to help transform North Carolina's economy. The foundation receives one-half of the state's funds from the 1998 Master Settlement Agreement with cigarette manufacturers and - among its many responsibilities - assists formerly tobacco-dependent communities in N.C.

The foundation has awarded 689 grants worth more than $354 million since its inception.

Gerlach, who was N.C. Gov. Mike Easley's top budget adviser before accepting his current position, said he is excited about the opportunity to serve as the Golden LEAF's top representative.

"The challenge of Golden LEAF is helping people in rural communities have the same opportunity as those in urban areas," Gerlach said. "We need to build the knowledge, talent and skill, along with the infrastructure to enable us to compete for things like Spirit in Kinston."

One of Gerlach's first duties was signing a $100 million loan that helped bring Spirit to Kinston and the Global TransPark. He said the loan will be repaid next year when the next installment of the tobacco settlement comes into the state's coffers.

"We're trying to help invest in and diversify our economy," Gerlach said. "We invested, not only in Spirit's building, but in the training of the employees. That'll help convince the Spirits yet to come that Eastern North Carolina is the place to come get quality workers."

Signing the loan, though, was a truly unique experience.

"My first week on the job, I signed a loan for $100 million and it was a little breathtaking," Gerlach said with a laugh. "My signature might have been a little squiggly."

Early to mid-2009, Gerlach said Golden LEAF will be investing $2 million in the Lenoir County community.

"Specifically, we'll have people come in through our community initiative (program) and talk about things that are important to Lenoir County," Gerlach said. "It's not going to just be the county commissioners, the mayor or the chamber of commerce, but we want the people to come out.

"Two million dollars can do right much, but also, you find out there are more needs."

Gerlach is an Ohio native who earned degrees in economics and English and trained in public administration. He moved to the Tar Heel state in 1995 to start a non-profit agency called North Carolina Budget Tax Center.

"It was sort of a watchdog organization that advocated budget and tax policy to help low-income people," Gerlach said.

When N.C. Gov. Mike Easley ran into a budget crunch in 2001, his office recruited Gerlach into his administration, where Gerlach became Easley's senior advisor for fiscal affairs.

He said he formed positive opinions about Kinston and Lenoir County from working with the state representatives and senators from the area.

"I always thought Kinston and Lenoir County were communities that always tried to be very competitive," Gerlach said. "I have always worked with the representatives from this area and I can assure you those representatives and senators are anxious for jobs to come to Lenoir County."

Bryan C. Hanks can be reached at (252) 559-1074 or at bhanks@freedomenc.com. Check out Bryan's blog at http://bhanks.encblogs.com.