Friday, December 10, 2021

N.C. Tobacco Trust Fund Commission awards over $4 million in grants

RALEIGH
Dec 10, 2021

The N.C. Tobacco Trust Fund Commission (N.C. TTFC) awarded over $4 million through 23 grants for agricultural and economic initiatives across the state. These grants place a high priority on projects that stimulate the agricultural economy, train current and future farmers and help farmers execute innovative ideas.

“Through these grants, our Commission has been able to fund a diverse group of projects that will benefit farmers in every corner of the state, whether they produce livestock, row crops or any number of other commodities in North Carolina.” said Bill Teague, Chairman of the N.C. TTFC.

The $4 million supports projects that assist counties with facility enhancements, universities with research and educational opportunities, commodity groups with marketing and farmers with operations improvements and diversification.

Six of the awarded projects are to improve agricultural programs and facilities at high school, community colleges and universities. Another project partners with the city of Sanford to build kitchen space and equipment at the new farmer’s market.

In addition to these grants, the N.C. TTFC has renewed its partnership with the WNC Communities - AgOptions program. This program’s purpose is to provide small grants directly to on-farm projects that support increasing farm profitability.

The N.C. General Assembly created the N.C. Tobacco Trust Fund Commission in 2000 to lessen the financial impact to farmers and tobacco-related businesses caused by the sharp decline of tobacco in the agricultural economy. The commission’s original funding was established through tobacco industry annual payments as a result of the Master Settlement Agreement. Its current funding comes from a set appropriation of funds. Since 2002, the N.C. TTFC has awarded more than 400 grants to public and nonprofit agencies that meet the goals of strengthening the rural and tobacco-dependent economies of North Carolina.

For more information and a list of grant recipients, see list below or visit the N.C. TTFC website at www.tobaccotrustfund.org.

2021 Grant Cycle Recipients

Project: Horticulture Lab Facility

Northeast Regional School of Biotechnology and Agriscience

Grant Amount: $85,861.00

Area Served: Martin, Pitt, Tyrrell, Washington

Project: Weathers Livestock Arena Improvements

Cleveland County Fair Inc

Grant Amount: $100,000.00

Area Served: Cleveland

Project: Tomato Gray Leaf Spot Management

The North Carolina Agricultural Foundation Inc

Grant Amount: $57,890.00

Area Served: Statewide

Project: Farmers Market Capital/Equipment Improvement

Waynesville Public Market

Grant Amount: $50,000.00

Area Served: Haywood

Project: Farmer's Market Renovations

Greene County Cooperative Extension

Grant Amount: $56,000.00

Area Served: Greene

Project: High Country Slaughter-Processing Facility

Watauga County

Grant Amount: $220,236.00

Area Served: Watauga

Project: EnergyCAP AgEnergy Program

Mountain Valleys Resource Conservation & Development Council

Grant Amount: $100,000.00

Area Served: 28 Western Counties

Project: Collection Stabilization and History Expansion

Tobacco Farm Life Museum Inc

Grant Amount: $158,401.00

Area Served: Statewide

Project: Agricultural Learning Through Farm Development

Alamance Community College

Grant Amount: $380,550.00

Area Served: Alamance, Orange, Guilford

Project: NCTTFC Commodity/Marketing Facility

University of Mount Olive

Grant Amount: $175,000.00

Area Served: Statewide

Project: Rental Equipment for Small Farms

Buncombe County Agricultural and Land Resources

Grant Amount: $24,499.00

Area Served: Buncombe

Project: Small Farmers Value-added Agricultural Opportunities

North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University

Grant Amount: $92,713.00

Area Served: Statewide

Project: Improvements to Fairgrounds Arena

Duplin County Agri-Community Center Foundation

Grant Amount: $90,112.00

Area Served: Duplin

Project: Project SkillUp: Worker Retraining Program

North Carolina Community College System

Grant Amount: $250,000.00

Area Served: Statewide

Project: VisitNCFarmsApp Administrators Economic Development/Marketing Support

North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services

Grant Amount: $200,000.00

Area Served: Statewide

Project: Caswell CEAD Incubator Farm Program

Piedmont Community College Foundation

Grant Amount: $368,300.00

Area Served: Caswell

Project: Soldier to Ag

The North Carolina Agricultural Foundation Inc

Grant Amount: $100,000.00

Area Served: Statewide

Project: Increasing Small Farm Profitability

Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project

Grant Amount: $79,000.00

Area Served: 23 Western Counties

Project: Agricultural Education Program Improvement Grant

The North Carolina Agricultural Foundation Inc

Grant Amount: $186,945.00

Area Served: Statewide

Project: Shared Use Community Kitchen

City of Sanford (Downtown Sanford Incorporated- DSI)

Grant Amount: $213,600.00

Area Served: Lee, Chatham, Harnett, Moore

Project: Consumers/Farmers: Bridging the Gap

Johnston County Tourism Authority

Grant Amount: $111,900.00

Area Served: Johnston

Project: Meet NC Egg Farmers

North Carolina Egg Association Inc.

Grant Amount: $106,800.00

Area Served: Statewide

Project: Western North Carolina Agricultural Options

WNC Communities

Grant Amount: $849,900.00

Area Served: 21 Western Counties

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