Greene County Cooperative Extension included in N.C. Tobacco Trust Fund Commission awards
RALEIGH – 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
