Southwest and Southern Virginia Programs
Southwest and Southern Virginia Programs support tobacco-dependent communities through agribusiness, business development, infrastructure, tourism, and housing projects to diversify local economies.
Funder: Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission
Due Dates: October 15, 2026 (Southern Virginia) | February 25, 2027 (Southwest Virginia)
Funding Amounts: FY2027 grant pools: up to $4.9 million Southern Virginia and $3 million Southwest Virginia; generally three-year projects
Summary: Grants and loans support economic revitalization through agribusiness, business development, industrial sites, infrastructure, tourism, and housing.
Key Information: Private for-profit entities cannot apply directly; grants require at least 1:1 match.
Description
The Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission’s regional programs competitively fund economic development in tobacco-dependent communities of Southern and Southwest Virginia. The respective regional committees review projects aimed at economic stability, diversification, employment, entrepreneurship, and vibrant communities that attract and retain people.
Both FY2027 programs support agribusiness, business development, sites and infrastructure, and tourism. Southern Virginia also has a dedicated housing category focused on adaptive reuse and infrastructure supporting workforce housing. Southwest Virginia considers housing property development within business district redevelopment, subject to pre-application approval. Priorities include growing agribusiness, advanced manufacturing, and knowledge-work sectors, improving existing economic development sites, expanding producer markets, and attracting visitor spending from outside the region.
