Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission
Economic Development in the Southside
and Southwest Regions of Virginia

When it comes to business site selection, companies of the 21st century are not always looking for the obvious. As domestic and international business interests evaluate new locations for expansion and relocation, having access to world-class workforce training facilities, research centers capable of supporting emerging technologies, and telecommunications infrastructure that can have you in contact with New York and Singapore within seconds are, with modern business demands, "non-negotiable" site selection items.

In that regard, many parts of Virginia and the South come to mind offering these amenities. In the dawn of the 21st century, however, the names of Stuart, Bristol, Norton, Marion, Danville, Chatham, South Hill, Appomattox, Farmville, South Boston, and Emporia, among others, need to start coming to mind.

In fact, there are 34 counties within the Commonwealth of Virginia that are offering more than ever before to business, industry and entrepreneurs. In the words of Virginia Senator Charles Hawkins, "We're creating the board rooms of tomorrow. We are bringing new energy to our communities. We are preparing a future, that is worthy of our past."

Many parts of Virginia that have been economically dependent on the staples of timber, tobacco, coal and textiles are finding a new future with telecommunications, nanoparticles, software systems, and robotics. Strong hands and strong backs that carried saws and pitch forks, has evolved into universal computer literacy, life long learning, applied research, and advanced manufacturing.

Communities served by the Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission now have the resources of entrepreneurial capital, infrastructure financing, and workforce training available as never before.

The institutions of higher learning in Southside and Southwest Virginia are linked to international research universities, and the two regions have embarked upon the ambitious implementation of advanced telecommunications infrastructure in the nation. It's all within a short drive of every major market on the eastern seaboard.

With over 12,000 new jobs created since it was created by the Virginia General Assembly, Governor Mark Warner's pledge to invest national tobacco settlement resources into an ambitious economic development agenda is proving to be a decision of monumental significance.

Link to www.vatobaccocommission.org and you enter the portal to a new economic dynamic; One that offers people who still believe that the American work ethic is alive and well; One that offers innovative new incentives that make starting-up and expansion seamless and painless. You are entering a link to every regional development office in Southside and Southwest Virginia that has a 'welcome mat' like no other…a welcome mat that says "the 21st century is here, and we're ready."

The question becomes: What do 17 community college, four-year colleges, continuing education and research centers; 112 business and industrial parks; over 700 miles of advanced telecommunications infrastructure; and over 1 million people have in common?

They're ready to work for you… in Southside and Southwest Virginia.

Tobacco Commission Funds at Work:
Regional Economic Development
Funds for regional economic development initiatives in the Southwest and Southside are designated for projects that will expand and diversify the economic base in the tobacco-dependent region. The goal is to create new employment opportunities and reduce the region's dependence on tobacco-related activities. The funds are used to develop industrial sites, improve basic infrastructure (water and sewer), establish training facilities, and develop tourism. Local governments, government entities (such as planning commissions), and non-profit organizations are eligible for these grants. Regional economic development grants are awarded through a semi-annual application process. Southside localities and organizations received 33 regional grants totaling $14.0 million. Southwest localities received 22 regional grants totaling $2.5 million.

Education
Education funds awarded for various projects are creating a world-class workforce in the Southside and Southwest, through scholarships, community college programs, workforce vocation training, and adult education programs. A total of 29 grants, worth $8.8 million were awarded in fiscal year 2004, including $2.8 million to the tobacco region's seven community colleges.

Innovation
Grants are awarded under the Special Projects fund for projects that benefit several localities within one region or have the potential to significantly impact the region as a whole. These funds are provided for projects such as research facilities and regional business development initiatives. The grants include three areas of focus: Special Projects; Tobacco Region Opportunity Fund (TROF); and Agribusiness. In 2004, the Commission committed $5.0 million to help attract 29 new companies, create 3,192 new jobs and generate $147.5 million in capital investment to the tobacco region.

Technology
Grants are awarded to develop regional fiber optic backbone networks providing high-speed, redundant connectivity at an affordable cost to regional users. These networks allow the tobacco region to attract and grow businesses that require broadband connectivity and to more effectively market the region as a location for business development. Four grants totaling $10.8 million were awarded to improve the telecom infrastructure in the tobacco region in 2004.

Tobacco Commission Grant Money at Work in the Regions
Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission grant money is having a major impact on the Southwest and Southside regions of Virginia. More than $44 million was awarded in 2004, to help fund projects like those described below:

Motosports Initiative
With seven racing tracks in Virginia's tobacco region, the multi-billion dollar motorsports industry has the potential to significantly improve the economic development in Southside and Southwest Virginia. The commission has funded several motorsports-related programs in the past few years with additional dollars specifically dedicated to motorsports marketing.

Institute for Advanced Learning and Research
Located in Danville, the Institute is a hub for technology research and advancements. The Institute has brought together ideas from Virginia Tech and Roanoke in the north, and universities such as Wake Forest, N.C. State and UNC in the south. The commission has an ongoing commitment to the facility with an annual contribution up to $2 million thorough 2010.
Rural Area Network

The LENOWISCO high-speed network is bringing broadband access to rural Southwest Virginia. The regional open-access network will serve Lee, Scott and Wise counties, leveraging 117 miles of the Scott County Telephone Cooperative backbone. The network configuration is a ring network architecture being built in phases. The commission has awarded grant and loan funds totaling $2.8 million for engineering and construction of this infrastructure initiative.

Lake Country Advanced Knowledge Center
In 2001, the Tobacco Commission awarded a grant to help Mecklenburg County renovate a vacant furniture store in South Hill. The building became the Lake Country Advanced Learning Center, a resource for educating and training workers for the new jobs in a changing economy. Ongoing grants have provided interior classroom improvements, machine-shop training equipment and computers.

Cumberland Plateau Regional Industrial Park
In 2001, the Commission awarded a grant to Russell County to build a regional industrial park in the town of Lebanon, leveraging federal and local funds to complete the facility. The Cumberland Plateau Regional Industrial Park now serves as a catalyst, attracting high-tech businesses and jobs to the area. The Commission has also awarded more than $1 million to Russell County for telecommunications infrastructure improvements that will link the industrial park and the County's business corridor with a high-speed broadband network. Technology is a key component in strengthening the region's competitiveness in the emerging knowledge-based economy.