The Golden LEAF Foundation, a nonprofit corporation, was created in 1999 to receive half of the funds coming to the state of North Carolina from the master settlement agreement with cigarette manufacturers. As part of its mandate to help transition North Carolina from a tobacco-dependent economy, Golden LEAF has made substantial contributions to BTEC, recognizing the significant role that the biomanufacturing and pharmaceutical industries have in North Carolina's future economy.

Its 15-member Board of Directors, appointed by the Governor, the President Pro Tem of the North Carolina Senate and the Speaker of the North Carolina House, believes it is fundamental that Golden LEAF resources be available not only today, but for generations to come. Therefore, the Foundation is committed to preserving and growing the corpus of its trust fund and to operating, to the greatest degree possible, by using income generated by the fund.

Golden LEAF makes grants to qualified nonprofits and to governmental entities and continues to focus on economic development and job creation; retraining displaced workers and increasing workforce preparedness for present-day workers as well as the new generations of workers; and developing alternative crops and marketing agricultural products. The Board believes that the biotechnology industry, especially, holds great promise for the people of North Carolina and has made substantial investments and grants to help develop that industry.

In recognition of the value of Golden LEAF's contribution to the BTEC effort, the NC State Board of Trustees voted to name the facility the Golden LEAF Biomanufacturing Training and Education Center.