The North Carolina Tobacco Trust Fund Commission (NCTTFC) has allocated more than $6.4 million in grants to support agricultural initiatives across the state. A total of 26 projects will receive funding aimed at strengthening the agricultural economy and supporting rural communities.
Bill Teague, Chairman of the NCTTFC, commented on the importance of these grants: “North Carolina’s agricultural community continues to face mounting challenges, from unpredictable weather to rising operational costs. These grants represent an investment in resilience and innovation, supporting the people and projects that will lead agriculture forward in our state.”
The grants awarded for 2025 cover a wide range of efforts. These include expanding agricultural education at various educational levels, improving infrastructure at farmers markets, updating equipment at extension offices, and promoting farm family health and safety.
The Commission also renewed its partnership with AgVentures, a program that offers small cost-share grants to farmers in 46 counties to improve farm viability and profitability. The Commission continues to support other organizations so that farmers in all 100 counties can access cost-share grant opportunities.
The NCTTFC was established by the North Carolina General Assembly in 2000 to address economic impacts from the decline of the tobacco industry. It was initially funded through the national Master Settlement Agreement with tobacco companies but now receives state appropriations. Since 2002, over 475 grants have been distributed to public and nonprofit organizations working toward strengthening rural and tobacco-dependent economies in North Carolina.
Among this year’s recipients are:
– Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project ($100,000) serving Buncombe and surrounding counties.
– Bladen Community College ($287,000) for facility expansion in Bladen County.
– Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture ($40,000) targeting market profitability for farmers in Watauga County.
– Central Carolina Community College ($167,000) for rural veterinary technician training.
– East Carolina University ($368,187) for statewide Certified Safe Farm programs.
– Jackson County Project RISE ($500,000).
– McDowell Agricultural Center Inc ($80,000).
– Nash County Outdoor Education Classroom ($102,000).
– NC Foundation for Soil and Water Conservation Inc ($107,250) for water conservation planning statewide.
– NCAP Foundation Inc ($450,000) focusing on digital agriculture economic impact.
– The North Carolina Agricultural Foundation Inc received multiple grants totaling several million dollars across various initiatives including dairy competitiveness, research internships, leadership academy development, solar feasibility studies and ag education improvement statewide.
– North Carolina Cattlemen’s Association Inc ($18,000) developing K–12 beef industry curriculum.
– North Carolina Sweetpotato Commission Foundation ($138,173) working on sweetpotato pest eradication.
– Richmond County Cooperative Extension ($8,033), Surry Community College ($163,060), Union County Government ($500,000), University of Mount Olive ($175,000), Washington Harbor District Alliance ($35,000), Watauga County ($46,906.15).
For a full list of recipients or more information about the NCTTFC’s work and history visit www.tobaccotrustfund.org.
