New Funds for Community & Agricultural Projects

Grant funds are now available for innovative projects designed to assist rural communities, stimulate economic development and increase farm income.

The North Carolina Tobacco Trust Fund Commission (NCTTFC) in Raleigh has announced its next grant cycle and is accepting applications until March 5, 2012. Project winners will be announced by September 2012.

“Grant ideas that target job creation in former/current tobacco-dependent regions, assist former/current tobacco farmers, or have the potential to generate additional income for farming sectors will be given top priority,” said William H. “Bill” Teague, NCTTFC Chairman. “The Commission currently serves hundreds of thousands of people through the more than 50 grants we fund across the state, and we hope to put about $2 million into a variety of new projects.”

Previous and current grants include farmer’s market renovations, alternative crop research, agricultural marketing campaigns and assistance for unemployed workers to improve job skills. Some of the current NCTTFC-supported projects include programs designed to decrease farm energy costs, build new facilities for livestock marketing, enhance local foods campaigns and develop markets for value-added food producers.
Grant application and guidelines can be found at www.tobaccotrustfund.org, and potential applicants may contact the NCTTFC at tobaccotrustfund@ncagr.gov or by calling 919-733-2160.

The Commission’s funding comes from monies paid by cigarette manufacturers as a result of the 1998 Master Settlement Agreement which are passed through the state’s general operating budget. The Commission was established in 2000 by the N.C. General Assembly to help members of the tobacco community – including farmers, tobacco workers and related businesses – lessen the impact of declining tobacco production.