Smithfield Foods Contributes $1 Million to Support North Carolina Apprenticeship Initiative

By Janet Foster

Smithfield Foods has contributed $1 million to inaugurate the Southeastern Education and Economic Development (SEED) apprenticeship program in North Carolina. In collaboration with the North Carolina Business Committee for Education (NCBCE), SEED represents a holistic youth apprenticeship initiative designed to chart career trajectories and facilitate college education for high school students in southeastern North Carolina counties.

Expressing the company’s dedication to providing educational opportunities for students, Steve Evans, Vice President of Community Development for Smithfield, emphasized the goal of cultivating the next generation of leaders. He sees the SEED program as a pivotal means to jump-start early career development, underscoring it as one of the multifaceted ways Smithfield contributes to communities in North Carolina and across the United States.

Governor Roy Cooper of North Carolina highlighted the significance of programs like SEED, emphasizing their role in equipping students with essential skills through on-the-job training. Recognizing the pivotal role of today’s high school students as tomorrow’s workforce, Governor Cooper linked the success of North Carolina’s growing economy to a top-tier workforce, emphasizing the need to ensure students graduate with the necessary skills.

For those seeking additional details on the SEED apprenticeship program, further information is available here, and a press release from Governor Cooper can be found here.

Smithfield’s generous $1 million donation to NCBCE for the launch of the SEED initiative stands as part of the company’s ongoing investment in North Carolina. In 2023 alone, Smithfield has contributed $2 million and over 1 million pounds of food (valued at more than $5 million) to support over 130 nonprofit organizations in North Carolina. These organizations focus on various aspects, including education, combating hunger, preserving soil and water resources, and assisting U.S. veterans.

Among the numerous organizations Smithfield supports in North Carolina are NC State Fair Hunger Relief Day, Military Missions in Action, Sampson County YMCA, Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina, Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina, United Way of Sampson County, NC Foundation for Soil & Water Conservation, Sylvan Heights Waterfowl Park and Eco-Center, North Carolina State University, and North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University.

Beyond community support, Smithfield contributes $2 million annually to fund environmental projects in the state through the North Carolina Department of Justice’s Environmental Enhancement Grant program. This ongoing commitment, established through a voluntary agreement with the Attorney General’s Office in 2000, has seen nearly $43 million allocated to over 228 environmental projects. These initiatives span the restoration or permanent conservation of more than 31,000 acres of land, wetland restoration, stormwater remediation, stream stabilization, and various environmental education and research endeavors across North Carolina.