2010 Grant Recipients
2009 Grant Recipients
2008 Grant Recipients
2007 Grant Recipients
2006 Grant Recipients
2005 Grant Recipients
2004 Grant Recipients
2003 Grant Recipients
2002 Grant Recipients
2001 Grant Recipients
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 - 2008 Recipients
Project: Capacity Building and Expansion of Columbus County Farmers Market
Contact: Mr. Kipling Godwin
Columbus County Community Farmers Market, Inc.
PO Box 888
Whiteville, NC 28472
910-840-6743
Grant Amount: $152,000
Summary: Funds will expand the current farmer’s market to include a 20’ x 30’ honey extractor room and 10’ x 10’ walk-in cooler. Area honeybee operators will take advantage of the extractor in order to expand their honey products. Produce vendors at the market will utilize the cooler to maintain product freshness.
Area Served: Columbus and surrounding counties
www.columbuscountyfarmersmarket.com
Project: An Improved Laboratory Information Management System to Meet the Agronomic Data Needs of NC Growers
Contact: Dr. Colleen Hudak-Wise
Agronomic Division, NCDA&CS
1040 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699
919-733-2655
Grant Amount: $455,600
Summary: Implement a custom designed new Lab Information Management System for the NCDA&CS agronomic lab. Services will include nematode assays, plant tissue and waste analysis. Lab will be able to handle increased sample and testing demands placed on it by farmers and consumers.
Area Served: Statewide
www.ncagr.com/agronomi
Project: Strong Roots: Strengthening Local Food Initiatives in North Carolina
Contact: Charlie Jackson
Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project (ASAP)
729 Haywood Rd., #3
Asheville, NC 28806
828-236-1280
Grant Amount: $205,000
Summary: Funds will assist ASAP personnel in training two NC communities on how to plan and execute local food campaigns, much like the current ASAP model. Grant would cover two years of training, planning and implementation for these multi-county regions.
Area Served: Two multi-county regions to be determined
Project: Succeed II: Production Skills for Today's Tobacco Growers
Contact: Ms. Kathy Kennel
NC Tobacco Foundation, Inc.
Box 7645 NC State
Raleigh, NC 27695
919-515-2000
Grant Amount: $36,320
Summary: Project provides production and leadership course for over 25 exceptional young NC farmers. Workshops, tours and other resources are utilized to expand their knowledge of agri-business and production.
Area Served: Statewide
www.cals.ncsu.edu/advancement/ag_find.htm
Project: Expanding Value-Added Opportunities for Farmers in Western North Carolina
Contact: Mr. Dale Carroll
AdvantageWest Economic Development Group
134 Wright Brothers Way
Fletcher, NC 28732
828-687-7234
Grant Amount: $136,500
Summary: Funds will cover outreach coordinators and personnel to assist more WNC farmers in developing value-added products. Farmers will receive increased training on how to produce and market value-added products made from their own farm products.
Area Served: Buncombe and surrounding counties of western NC
Project: "Got to be NC Agriculture" Direct Marketing Initiative
Contact: Mr. Joe Sanderson
NCDA&CS
1020 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699
919-733-7912
Grant Amount: $300,000
Summary: Consumer directed television feature on tobacco production in NC and how farmers have diversified into other crops and products. Financial impact on agriculture will be explored to raise consumer awareness. The importance of local food supply to citizens will also be emphasized.
Area Served: Statewide
Project: Sustaining Madison County Family Farms and Ensuring Food Safety
Contact: Mr. Aubrey Raper
Madison County Government
2 N. Main St.
Marshall, NC 28753
828-649-2411
Grant Amount: $119,200
Summary: Project funds will be used for GAP certification and training of growers, salaries for manager and sales/production coordinator, dock improvements and other training. Farmers will expand production of produce and increased sales of local produce will be the result.
Area Served: Madison, Buncombe, Yancey, and Mitchell Counties
Project: Project New Start: Phase III
Contact: Mr. Howard Jones
Opportunities Industrialization Center of Wilson, Inc. (OIC)
PO Box 547
Wilson, NC 27893
252-291-0038
Grant Amount: $240,000
Summary: Funding will continue support for Project New Start Phase III. Assists dislocated workers in Wilson County with job research, personal training and employment. Case managers partner with county Employment Security Commission and JobLink to find positions at local businesses.
Area Served: Wilson County
Project: Developing New Markets for North Carolina Peanuts
Contact: Mr. Robert Sutter
North Carolina Peanut Growers Association
PO Box 8
Nashville, NC 27856
252-459-5060
Grant Amount: $100,000
Summary: Funds will conduct a market development program to sell more NC Peanuts in major drug store chains. Program includes in-store displays, coupons and advertising to raise awareness about peanuts as a healthy snack and to increase product sales.
Area Served: Statewide
Project: "Discover North Carolina Farms" - Statewide Map of Agritourism
Contact: Ms. Martha Glass
NCDA&CS, Agritourism Office
1020 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699
919-733-7887
Grant Amount: $28,000
Summary: 100,000 large full color maps featuring NC agritourism farms will be printed and placed at all NC welcome centers. Visitors and residents will be able to readily locate farmers. Increased consumer traffic at these farms should result in higher sales for NC farmers.
Area Served: Statewide
Project: Raising Hope for Southeastern North Carolina Farmers: A Regional Biofuels Sustainability Project
Contact: Mr. Gary Nealy
Southeastern Community College
PO Box 151
Whiteville, NC 28472
910-642-7141
Grant Amount: $250,000
Summary: Funds will assist in implementing a biofuels processing lab for outreach and education for farmers. Long range goal is to develop crops in the area that could be used for biofuels and bring more income to farmers.
Area Served: Columbus and surrounding counties
Project: Evaluation of Food Safety Traceback Programs Used by North Carolina Produce Growers
Contact: Mr. Ross Williams
NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
1020 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699
919-733-7887
Grant Amount: $30,000
Summary: Surveys and visits to NC produce farmers to gather data on produce traceback programs. Traceback programs allow consumers, shippers and growers to track produce from the field to the store. Data will be used to implement a statewide recommendation on the best program that should be utilized by all produce growers/shippers in the state.
Area Served: Statewide
Project: Financing Sustainable Agricultural Businesses
Contact: Mr. Rick Larson
Natural Capital Investment Fund, Inc.
PO Box 271
Chapel Hill, NC 27514
919-967-2223
Grant Amount: $500,000
Summary: Funds will offer loan and investment capital for sustainable agricultural businesses. Within two years, the project will issue a minimum of 10 loans and leverage over $1.4 million in additional investment. Borrowers will be able to expand and/or venture out into new businesses designed to increase their farm income.
Area Served: Statewide
Project: Piedmont Value-Added Shared Use Food and Agricultural Processing Center
Contact: Mr. Noah Ranells
Orange County
PO Box 8181
Hillsborough, NC 27278
919-245-2300
Grant Amount: $479,000
Summary: Facility located in Hillsborough will provide a full service food processing center for 22 counties. Funds will be used for equipment to be purchased once renovations are complete. Funds are contingent upon other funding sources for which the group has applied.
Area served: Orange and surrounding 22 counties
Project: North Carolina Organic Bread Flour Project
Contact: Mr. Roland McReynolds
Carolina Farm Stewardship Association
PO Box 448
Pittsboro, NC 27312
919-542-2402
Grant Amount: $57,904
Funds will be used to conduct a study on feasibility of bringing growers together to sell hard winter wheat to a custom milling facility. Project will also determine feasibility of setting up processing infrastructure for local flour production.
Area Served: Statewide
Project: Farm City Link Program/L. L. Polk House Foundation, Inc.
Contact: Mr. Peter Daniel
NC Farm Bureau
PO Box 27766
Raleigh, NC 27611
919-788-1017
Grant Amount: $57,800
Summary: Grant will support educational and promotional efforts of the L.L. Polk House; the birthplace of the first Commissioner of Agriculture in NC. Consumer outreach will include educational displays and programs emphasizing the history and importance of agriculture to NC.
Area Served: Wake County
Project: Nash Area Farmers Market Expansion Project
Contact: Mr. Charlie Tyson
Extension Director, Nash County
1006 Eastern Ave, Rm 102
Nashville, NC 27846
252-459-9810
Grant Amount: $400,000
Summary: Funds will be used to expand the Nash County Area Farmer’s Market by building a 52’ x 72’ open shelter that will accommodate more produce vendors. 36 additional parking spaces will also be added for consumers.
Area Served: Nash and surrounding counties
Project: Tobacco Growers Communications Assistance
Contact: Ms. Kathy Kennel
NC Tobacco Foundation, Inc.
Box 7645, NCSU
Raleigh, NC 27695
919-515-2000
Grant Amount: $65,730
Summary: Funds will support quarterly newsletters with vital research and marketing information that target 8,000 tobacco growers. Includes costs for the annual Tobacco Grower Resource Guide which is also distributed.
Area Served: Statewide
http://www.cals.ncsu.edu/advancement/ag_fnd.htm
Project: Sustaining the Economic Impact from Tobacco Production in North Carolina
Contact: Ms. Kathy Kennell
NC Tobacco Foundation, Inc.
Box 7645, NCSU
Raleigh, NC 27695
919-515-2000
Grant Amount: $150,000
Summary: Funding will allow conversion of one research station tobacco barn for hot water curing fired by wood chips. Results of cost savings will be shared among other stations and farming operations for possible implementation.
Area Served: Statewide
http://www.cals.ncsu.edu/advancement/ag_fnd.htm
Project: Building Capacity for Working Farm Easements
Contact: Mr. Reid Wilson
Conservation Trust for North Carolina
1028 Washington St
Raleigh, NC 27605
919-828-4199
Grant Amount: $150,000
Summary: The Conservation Trust for NC will use funds to cover transaction costs to protect an additional 10 farms with tobacco backgrounds. Legal guidance and training for Soil & Water Conservation District staff is also included.
Area Served: Statewide
Project: Project Skill-UP
Contact: Ms. Barbara Boyce
North Carolina Community College System
5001 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699
919-807-7100
Grant Amount: $292,000
Summary: Funding will continue for seven+ community colleges to target clients who need further job skills training and/or help in securing employment. As of 2008, nearly 600 persons had been served by previous grants. Project will expand to nine schools.
Area Served: Statewide.
Project: NC Commodity Asian Export Promotion
Contact: Mr. Peter Thornton
NCDA&CS, International Marketing Division
1020 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699
919-733-7912
Grant Amount: $33,000
Summary: Funds a NCDA&CS 2-week trade mission to China and Taiwan with NC agri-industry representatives to promote sales and relationships for tobacco, soybeans, pork and sweet potato producers. Result will be improved relations with various commodities buyers and government officials that will lay groundwork for export of NC products.
Area Served: Statewide
Project: Expanding Bramble Production in NC with Emphasis on Food and Water Quality
Contact: Ms. Debbie Robertson
NCDA&CS Research Stations Division
1001 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699
919-733-7125
Grant Amount: $261,946
Summary: Develops and further expands bramble (blueberry, raspberry, blackberry) production research and testing at state research stations integrating good agricultural practices, studing the use of high tunnels to extend growing season, and implementing water quality improvements. Result will be better testing on varieties which farmers can grow and expand production.
Area Served: Statewide
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Project: WNC Livestock Marketing and Event Center
Contact: Mr. L. T. Ward
WNC Communities
594 Brevard Road
Asheville, NC 28806
828-252-4783
Grant Amount: $500,000
Summary: Grant will provide construction planning funds (such as license fees, site prep, architectural and engineering fees) to design, build and operate a permanent livestock market in Haywood County. All western NC livestock producers will be able to utilize the facility to sell and purchase livestock.
Area Served: Western NC