A Six-Year Retrospective
The North Carolina Tobacco Trust Fund Commission is pleased to present this Six-Year Retrospective featuring 33 successful projects funded by the commission from 2001 to 2007.We believe this publication will help North Carolinians - including elected representatives, community leaders and the general public - more fully understand the role the Tobacco Trust Fund Commission is playing to secure a better future for those citizens adversely affected by the decline of tobacco-related income and employment.
GRANTS - 2009
Project: Appalachian Grown Marketing Support for Mountain Farms
Contact: Mr. Charlie Jackson
ASAP
729 Haywood Road
Asheville, NC 28806
828-236-1280
Grant Amount: $56,150
Summary: Provides cost-share marketing funds for nearly 350 farmers that are part of the Appalachian Grown marketing program in the western NC region. Producers will benefit from increased sales due to improved and expanded marketing efforts.
Area Served: Western NC counties
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Project: Farm Credit University
Contact: Ms. Maggie Hamm
Carolina Farm Credit
146 Victory Lane
Statesville, NC 28625
828-612-0381
Grant Amount: $94,500
Summary: Targets young, beginning, small and minority farmers through an e-learning curriculum. Farm families will be trained on financial planning, budgeting, and other aspects of farming operations essential to their success. AgCarolina Financial, Cape Fear Farm Credit and Carolina Farm Credit regional offices have partnered to administer the program.
Area Served: Statewide
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Project: The Inn at Mars Hill
Contact: Ms. Donna Kull
Mars Hill College
100 Athletic St.
Mars Hill, NC 28754
828-688-1277
Grant Amount: $50,000
Summary: Provides funds towards architectural and engineering plans of a 21,000 square foot education center for visiting extended learning participants. Instructional programs will focus on ag-related curriculums, tours and businesses in the area in order to bring economic impact to community.
Area Served: Madison & surrounding counties
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Project: Alternative Energy Project
Contact: Mr. Russell Blevins
Mountain Valleys Resource Conservation & Development
4388 Hwy. 25-70, Suite 3
Marshall, NC 28753
828-649-3313
Grant Amount: $245,000
Summary: Cost-share program for western farmers to utilize wind, solar and water energy projects in an effort to reduce their own energy costs.
Area Served: Seven Western NC counties
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Project: Seasonal Crop Diversification
Contact: Dr. Keith Baldwin
NC A&T
PO Box 21928
336-334-7956
Grant Amount: $49,000
Summary: Project utilizes high-tunnel green houses to study how produce seasons can be extended. Results will improve growing season and provided longer, sustained income for small farmers.
Area Served: Statewide
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Project: AgriSafe & Certified Safe Farm
Contact: Ms. Kathy Kennel
NC Agricultural Foundation, Inc.
Box 7645 NC State
Raleigh, NC 27695
919-515-2000
Grant Amount: $500,000
Summary: Two-year project that establishes trains specialized and area agents to conduct farm safety audits and certify farms that meet specific safety criteria. Establishes AgriSafe health program through regional health-care professionals and clinics in order to identify medical issues and reduce health care costs.
Area Served: Tri-county region with growth expected into other regions
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Project: Potential of Switchgrass in NC
Contact: Ms. Kathy Kennel
NC Agricultural Foundation, Inc.
Box 7645 NC State
Raleigh, NC 27695
919-515-2000
Grant Amount: $174,300
Summary: Two-year project that researches a mechanized system and process capable of converting various forage grasses into energy pellets. The production and energy potential of switchgrass will be studied and a pellet mill established.
Area Served: Statewide
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Project: Stockpiled Fescue for Wintering
Contact: Ms. Kathy Kennel
NC Agricultural Foundation, Inc.
Box 7645 NC State
Raleigh, NC 27695
919-515-2000
Grant Amount: $41,723
Summary: Project develops research plots to study how an intensive pasture-grazing system can decrease production expenses for cattle producers.
Area Served: Statewide
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Project: Project Skill-UP
Contact: Ms. Barbara Boyce
NC Community College System
5001 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699
919-807-7100
Grant Amount: $550,000
Summary: Continuation of successful grant program that provides financial assistance, job training and career enhancement for displaced workers. Expands funding for nine community colleges, adds funds for five more colleges and implements a job stimulus training program statewide.
Area Served: Statewide
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Project: Agricultural Products Marketing Initiative
Contact: Mr. Joe Sanderson
NCDA&CS
1080 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699
919-733-7887
Grant Amount: $325,000
Summary: Implements state-wide cost share campaign targeting grocery and foodservice outlets as well as commodity associations and is designed to increase sales of NC products. Utilizes successful Got to Be NC marketing campaign.
Area Served: Statewide
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Project: Education & Outreach Supporting NC Agriculture
Contact: Mr. Brian Long
NCDA&CS
1001 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699
919-733-7125
Grant Amount: $50,000
Summary: Provides support for continuation of Agricultural Review – a monthly publication providing important agricultural information and reaching nearly 40,000 people/month.
Area Served: Statewide
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Project: Expanding NC Strawberry Marketing Window
Contact: Ms. Debbie Robertson
NCDA&CS Research Stations Division
1001 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699
919-733-7125
Grant Amount: $150,000
Summary: Implements research program utilizing greenhouses to lengthen growing season for NC Strawberries and increase income for NC farmers.
Area Served: Statewide
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Project: Rebuilding Pastures and Enhancing Livestock Production
Contact: Mr. Cecil Settles
NC Foundation for Soil & Water Conservation, Inc.
2012 Lodestar Dr.
Raleigh, NC 27615
919-510-4599
Grant Amount: $50,000
Summary: Purchases pasture-renovating seed drills so that farmers can rent at low costs in order to restore grasses essential to their livestock operations.
Area Served: Statewide
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Project: Regional Agribusiness Development Initiative
Contact: Dr. Tony Johnson
NC Real Enterprises
3739 National Dr., Suite 110
Raleigh, NC 27612
919-781-6833
Grant Amount: $62,000
Summary: Implements training program for farmers/workers transitioning to higher margin sustainable agricultural and other business ventures. Partners with local community colleges and other sources to implement program.
Area Served: Upper Coastal Plains counties
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Project: Pilot Scale Extraction Facility Location & Design Analysis
Contact: Mr. Vann Rogerson
NC’s Northeast Economic Development Foundation, Inc.
119 West Water St.
Edenton, NC 27932
252-482-4333
Grant Amount: $25,000
Summary: Funds the Pilot Scale Extraction Facility Location & Design Analysis that will determine plans for construction of the facility. Targets plant biotechnology companies that would utilize the services of the equipment and possibly locate to northeastern NC.
Area Served: Northeastern NC.
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Project: Farmer’s Market Update & Expansion
Contact: Ms. Nancy Simon
Poplar Grove Foundation, Inc.
10200 US Hwy. 17 N.
Wilmington, NC 28411
910-686-9518
Grant Amount: $50,000
Summary: Funds site improvements for weekly farmer’s market, providing easier accessibility and parking for vendors and customers.
Area Served: Pender & surrounding counties
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Project: Silk Hope Community Building
Contact: Mr. Tom Smith
Silk Hope Ruritan Club
394 Hope Mills Dr.
Siler City, NC 27344
919-663-4541
Grant Amount: $350,000
Summary: Grant leverages with other funders to assist with construction of new center for agricultural and other community groups.
Area Served: Chatham County
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Project: Agricultural Heritage & Agritourism Program
Contact: Ms. Melody Johnson
Tobacco Farm Life Museum
Hwy. 301 North
Kenly, NC 27542
919-284-3431
Grant Amount: $45,000
Summary: Provides funding for staff development, curator projects, and marketing for the museum.
Area Served: Johnston County
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Project: Shallotte Farmer’s Market
Contact: Mr. Allen Serkin
Town of Shallotte, NC
PO Box 2287
Shallotte, NC 28459
910-754-4032
Grant Amount: $24,110
Summary: Assists downtown market with vendor tents, storage and marketing to encourage more customers and increased sales.
Area Served: Brunswick County
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Project: WNC Regional Livestock Center
Contact: Mr. L.T. Ward
WNC Communities
594 Brevard Rd.
Asheville, NC 28806
828-252-4783
Grant Amount: $375,000
Summary: Provides funding towards Phase I facility construction for a new regional livestock marketing center.
Area Served: Western NC
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