APB agenda 082003 - Laserfiche WebLink

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sorts of things tie into winemaking — resorts, hotels, restaurants, enter- tainment, farm supplies, manufacturing and other essential parts of the industry. We're only on the threshold of what wine production can do for this economy." Golden LEAF made an initial grant to Surry Community College in 2000 to help develop the wine industry in Surry and neighboring counties. In 2002, Golden LEAF grants were used to expand the college's teach- " We'belleve vineyards will have a major- impact on the ing vineyard and winery agricultural economy for years to come. and continued develop- —Ed Shelton of Shelton Vineyards, Surry County ment of the area's wine grape industry, including providing equipment to set up Old North State's state -of- the -art winery in downtown Mount Airy. Expected to be operational for the 2003 fall harvest and crushing, the winery will bottle wines produced from cooperative members' grapes under its Carolina Harvest label or the growers' own labels. And the winery's retail shop will also feature other local products, broadening the economic benefit of wine - related tourism to include entrepreneurial efforts in other areas. "With the help of Golden LEAF, in a relatively short time we put together a quality program that is unique throughout the country," Dr. Sells said, noting that not only does Surry Community College offer the only viticulture degree program in this part of the country, it has its own campus winery in place to train students in the craft of fine winemaking. "This kind of progress on our part could not have been possible without the kind of support we have received from Golden LEAF," he maintains. "We're only on the threshold of what amine production can do for this economy." —Dr. Frank Sells, president of Surry Community College, Dobson GOLDENLEAF 2002 Annual Report 7