TOBACCO REGION REVITALIZATION COMMISSION MEETS IN RICHMOND
Commission Approves 27 Funding Requests for Projects in Southwest and Southside Virginia
Richmond, VA – The Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission met over two days (January 9-10) to give final approval for 27 funding requests as well as a number of extensions for previously awarded projects. The 27 funding requests total more than $11.9 million dollars and will support projects in areas such as workforce training, agribusiness and general economic development. The total funds to be disbursed break down as follows: $9.7 million for scholarships and workforce training, $705,537 for economic development as well as $1,505,963 for agribusiness related projects. The individual requests approved ranged in size from $8,300 to $500,000. In the coming weeks information highlighting specific projects will be made available.
Tobacco Commission member, Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Basil I. Gooden said, “The great work of the Commission is critical to building, expanding and diversifying the new Virginia economy. As a vocal advocate of agriculture’s role in Virginia’s economic development, I am especially pleased with the quality of projects funded through the Agribusiness Committee. They will have a real impact on the people and communities in rural Virginia.”
The Commission also made a slight change to the Tobacco Region Opportunity Fund (TROF) guidelines which will allow the Executive Director to approve funding requests, in consultation with the TROF Committee, for projects that will create a significant number of jobs but do not meet the minimum capital investment threshold. This will ensure that the Commission is able to support projects that bring jobs to Southern and Southwest Virginia but may not include a large amount of physical expansion.
Tobacco Commission Chairman, Delegate Terry Kilgore added, “I am pleased that the Commission chose to fund these worthwhile projects. These projects will help us continue toward our goal of developing a diverse economy in Southern and Southwest Virginia.”
The funding requests approved over the two day meeting will continue to fulfill the mission of the Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission to create jobs and opportunity in the former tobacco regions of Virginia.
Contact: Jordan Butler
Telephone: 804-786-7692
Cell: 757-692-0878
Email: jordan.butler@tic.virginia.gov
Website: www.tic.virginia.gov
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
1/10/17