[WAKE FOREST, NC] The Town of Wake Forest is pleased to announce Julius Jefferson as its Interim Police Chief. Jefferson, who had served as Captain since 2020, succeeds Jeff Leonard who retired February 1.

A Warren County native and WCHS graduate (1992), Jefferson began his career with the Wake County Sheriff’s Office in 1996 as a Detention Officer. In 1999 he was promoted to Detention Sergeant, a position he held until starting Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) at Vance-Granvile Community College in January 2006. He graduated from BLET later that year.

In September 2006, Jefferson began working with the Wake Forest Police Department as a Patrol Officer. Since then, he has worked as a Patrol Sergeant, Impact Sergeant, Traffic Sergeant, Impact Lieutenant, and Impact Captain. He has also served on the Wake County Traffic Safety Task Force.

Jefferson earned an Associate’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Vance-Granville Community College in 1996 and a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice from UNC Pembroke in 2023. He attended the 69th session of the Administrative Officers Management Program through NC State in 2014, FBI-LEEDA Trilogy (Executive Leadership, Command Leadership, and Supervisor Leadership) 2020-21, FBI Command College in 2022, and Ethical Leadership and Leadership on the Line in 2023.

When he’s not working, Jefferson enjoys watching movies, carpentry, and attending car shows.

“Julius Jefferson’s experience and community knowledge make him the perfect person to succeed Chief Leonard,” said Town Manager Kip Padgett. “He is highly capable and highly respected. He has also demonstrated outstanding leadership throughout his career with the Wake Forest Police Department. I am confident he is the right person to serve as our Interim Chief.”

A permanent police chief will be named later this year following a comprehensive search process.

Source: Wake Forest Police Department Facebook

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The Duke Energy Foundation recently announced it has granted $50,000 to The VGCC Foundation to support small businesses in Vance, Granville, Franklin, and Warren counties.

The grant is part of $700,000 in new funding made available to North Carolina small businesses in partnership with community development organizations like the Small Business Center at Vance-Granville Community College. Small business grants ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 will be distributed through 20 community organizations to support retail shops, restaurants, and other small businesses looking to expand, upgrade technology, and improve downtown storefronts.

Now in its fourth year, the program has provided over $2 million in funding to small businesses since its inception during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The Duke Energy Foundation’s small business grant program has helped fuel a resurgence of entrepreneurial small businesses ranging from bookstores to restaurants in our state,” said Kendal Bowman, North Carolina State President for Duke Energy. “These small business grants ensure Main Streets across North Carolina are well positioned to benefit from our state’s unprecedented economic growth.”

Such businesses play a critical role in the state’s economic health and employ nearly half of North Carolina’s workforce, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration.

“Small businesses remain the backbone of the U.S. economy, and in rural areas, they also serve as the heartbeat of our local economies,” noted VGCC President Dr. Rachel Desmarais. “This monetary commitment enables Vance-Granville Community College to promote the entrepreneurial mindset and support budding small business ideas into real businesses within our larger community.”

The VGCC Small Business Center will select grant fund recipients through a series of workshops, one based in each of the four counties the College serves. Each workshop session will span four evening classes (10 total hours of instruction). The sessions will culminate with a five-minute pitch contest, after which five of the session’s 10 participants will receive a $2,500 award to support their small business.

Workshop dates and locations are as follows:
Sept. 16–19: VGCC South Campus
Sept. 30 – Oct. 3: VGCC Main Campus
Oct. 7–10: VGCC Warren Campus
Oct. 14–17: VGCC Franklin Campus

To learn more about this program and participant requirements, contact VGCC Small Business Center Director Carolyn Perry at (252) 738-3240 or perryc@vgcc.edu.

For more information on the Duke Energy Foundation and its initiatives, visit duke-energy.com/Foundation.

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