Excitingly, the Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission has begun accepting applications for their FY21 Southern and Southwest Virginia Programs! Governmental entities and non-profit organizations located and/or providing economic revitalization programs, services or facilities within the Tobacco Regions are encouraged to apply for funding to implement projects and/or initiatives that advance the Commission’s priorities and measurably expand the local and regional economy. Learn more about the grant opportunity below!

In terms of investment categories, logic models included in the Commission’s FY2020-2022 Strategic Plan identify specific investment strategies for the types of projects that the Commission will consider funding. Submitted applications must fall into one of the following categories:

• Business Development
• Sites and Infrastructure
• Agribusiness
• Broadband
• Tourism

Further details on priorities and the types of projects to be considered within each investment category are provided in Section III. Guidelines for Specific Investment Categories of the FY21 Southern Virginia Program Guidelines and the Southwest Virginia Program Guidelines.

In addition to amounts available in communities’ allocations, the Commission’s FY21 budget allocates $5.5 million for the Southern Virginia Program and approximately $2.1 million for the Southwest Virginia Program. The application deadline for the Southern Virginia Program is March 9, 2021 and March 4, 2021 for the Southwest Virginia Program. Award decisions are expected to be made at the Commission’s meeting in May 2021.

All applications must be submitted through the on-line grants portal (select the “Apply for Funding” button from the TRRC home page). Organizations who wish to receive feedback on prospective projects can submit a nonbinding Pre-Application through the TRRC website. For projects that are already in the planning and development stage, TRRC grants staff will be scheduling 30 minute, project team meetings over three days on February 2nd, 5th and 9th. Applicants can contact Sarah Capps, Southern Regional Director, or Sara Williams, Southwest Regional Director, directly to be considered for a meeting time slot!

The TRRC is a 28-member body created by the 1999 General Assembly. Its mission is the promotion of economic growth and development in formerly tobacco-dependent communities, using proceeds of the national tobacco settlement.  To date, the Commission has awarded 2,285 grants totaling more than $1.17B across the tobacco region of the Commonwealth, and has provided $309 million in indemnification payments to tobacco growers and quota holders.