The Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission held its first scheduled meeting of the year on January 7, and approved 27 funding requests, including two local projects, to support a variety of organizations and initiatives across Southern and Southwest Virginia.
Funded projects include investments in energy innovation, workforce training programs across Southern and Southwest Virginia, agriculture, tourism, site development and more. These awards are part of the commission’s 25 years of work helping to rebuild the economies of Southern and Southwest Virginia.
Locally, the commission awarded funds to:
A.L. Philpott Manufacturing Extension Partnership d.b.a. GENEDGE Alliance E-3 Assessment for Industrial Training Assessment Center (ITAC) Implementation Grant Qualification Pilot Program – $49,250 Grant.
The industrial sector consumes approximately 35% of U.S. energy, with manufacturing accounting for approximately 76% of that total. Rising energy costs and growing regulatory demands challenge small and medium-sized manufacturers (SMMs), particularly in Virginia’s Tobacco Region.
GENEDGE, approved as an ITAC-equivalent by the U.S. Department of Energy, proposes a pilot project funded by the Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission (TRRC) to help three (3) SMMs reduce energy costs, improve efficiency, and achieve sustainability goals through capital projects and energy utilization investment. The project will provide each participating manufacturer E-3 assessments and grant application support for DOE’s ITAC Implementation Program.
This initiative will enhance manufacturers’ competitiveness and promote decarbonization by enabling access to applications for up to $300,000 in match grant funding per identified energy efficiency project. Additionally, a market study is planned to identify high energy use manufacturing across the Southern portion of the Tobacco Region Revitalization Commissions service area for potential expansion of this pilot project and to identify potential participants in future TRRC Energy Ingenuity program proposals.
Patrick & Henry Community College Foundation P&HCC Building Trades Expansion: Electrician Training – $129,527 Grant P&HCC has experienced great growth in both employer demand and enrollment in building trades programming in the last two years, and is working on planned expansions of multiple building trades training programs. P&HCC is seeking funding to bring training to students with barriers that prevent or make it difficult to travel to the college’s main campus. P&HCC requests funding for equipment needed to offer expanded electrician training. This equipment will be housed in an existing mobile trailer and will be used at P&HCC’s Patrick County site, The Franklin Center, and to serve the Henry County Adult Detention Center, in conjunction with classroom space at each location. Students participating in training in the mobile lab can earn up to 11 industry recognized certifications.
The commission also elected new officers for the year. Del. Will Morefield will serve as chairman and Sen. Lashrecse Aird will serve as vice-chairman.
“It is an honor to be named chairman of the Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission,” Morefield said. “I have served on the commission for a number of years and during that time I have seen the impact the commission has had on Southern and Southwest Virginia. From attracting new businesses and creating good paying jobs to supporting our farmers and helping to revitalize our downtowns, the commission has played a key role in the success we see across the footprint today. I am ready to get to work with all of my colleagues on the commission to ensure that success continues.”
Aird said, “The commission’s ability to be flexible and innovate to meet the needs of our communities is, in my opinion, one of its strongest assets. As vice-chair I want to ensure that the commission continues to innovate as it has over the last 25 years, and especially recently with our various new programs and partnerships. Southern and Southwest Virginia are growing and changing but are still facing challenges. The commission can help them meet those challenges and I look forward to doing my part to make that happen.”
The commission also welcomed three new members:
Wayne Carter III of Mecklenburg County, Executive Director, Southside Regional Public Service Authority:
The Honorable Sandra Frederick of Abingdon, Associate Professor of Education, Emory & Henry University; member, Washington County School Board, Madison District:
Hampton Wilkins of Danville, Owner and President, Wilkins & Co. Realty, Inc.; Owner and President, Wilkins General Contractor.
Tobacco Commission Executive Director, Hon. James E. Campos congratulated Morefield, Aird and the new members. “I look forward to working with them over the course of the year ahead to continue getting results for Southern and Southwest Virginia.”
