TRRC has established a $12 million dollar fund for rural, disadvantaged, or Native American communities with $6 million designated for energy-related projects in each of its service regions, Southern and Southwest Virginia. The program is designed as an umbrella that can review various types of proposals for energy projects, with a focus on establishing a ‘best in class’ energy economy. This fund will capitalize on a skilled workforce and promote an energy focused economy for the Tobacco Region,

The Incentives and Loans program includes the Commission’s Tobacco Region Opportunity Fund (TROF) and the Community and Business Lending (CBL) program. TROF provides performance-based monetary grants and loans to tobacco region localities to assist in the creation of new jobs and investments, whether through new business attraction or existing business expansion. The CBL program provides access to capital in the tobacco region while contributing to the Commission’s financial sustainability by providing low-interest loans to qualifying applicants and projects.

The Education program aims to prepare citizens for new-economy employment through GED and workforce development, higher education scholarship and loan programs for the two regions and competitive grants to community colleges as well as other post-secondary educational entities.

The Southwest Virginia Program seeks to invest in projects promoting economic growth and development of the Southwest Virginia area of the Commonwealth’s Tobacco Region. In general, funding is made available to implement projects that advance Commission priorities and measurably expand the local and regional economy.

The Southern Virginia Program seeks to invest in projects promoting economic growth and development of the Southern Virginia area of the Commonwealth’s Tobacco Region. In general, funding is made available to implement projects that advance Commission priorities and measurably expand the local and regional economy.