WELDON — Eight months of debate and consideration ended Wednesday night with 10 Halifax County projects totaling $3.45 million recommended for funding by the Golden Leaf Foundation. The dilemma facing the foundation’s board is it has only allotted $2 million to the county.

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The Community Assistance Initiative process began in March with more than 60 people on hand to discuss the county’s needs and begin exploring potential projects.

Wednesday night nearly two dozen residents participated as the review team in fashioning the final recommendations. The projects chosen include:

•  Halifax Corporate Park site improvements — $400,000.

•  One Goal Student Achievement from all three of the county’s school districts — $975,000.

•  Roanoke Valley Early College Enhancement Plan — $246,820.

•  Implementation of the national Main Street model to revitalize the economy and preserve the history of Halifax County — $35,000.

•  Roanoke River Low Country Tour — $133,844.

•  Airport Redevelopment/Reuse Study Project — $105,000.

•  Enfield Partnership for Tomorrow — A Master Economic Development Plan — $75,000.

•  Halifax County Main Street Revitalization Program — $400,000.

•  Haliwa-Saponi School Multipurpose building — $1,000,000.

•  NOW-CDC Inc. Economic Development for Hollister — $80,000.

The objective of the Community Assistance Initiative is to help communities in Tier I counties by supporting projects which significantly enhance the quality of life for citizens.

While only $2 million is offered by Golden Leaf for the Initiative, Vice President of Programs /Community Assistance & Outreach Pat Cabe said having the projects total a little higher wouldn’t hurt.

Wednesday, as everyone labored over the decision on which projects to recommend, State Rep. Angela Bryant voiced one observation, “I’m just going to bring up the elephant in the room. The top eight projects are a majority government projects. Clearly the government agencies have the advantage as far as staff and putting the paperwork together. With the top 10 you should include some community based projects.” The team followed Bryant’s advice.

When asked if other groups found it so hard to make a decision on which projects to recommend, Cabe said, “Yes ... It’s hard,” she said. “Everyone has worked hard on this and all these projects are important.”

Cabe said notifications will be sent to project sponsors and they will be invited to submit a full application to the Golden Leaf board. While all will probably not be funded, the review team hopes each will have the opportunity to give it their best shot before the Golden Leaf board.