Workforce Financial Aid
Forecasted
Workforce Financial Aid supports Tobacco Region residents through community colleges and higher education centers, funding tuition and fees for credentials tied to in-demand careers with regional employers.
Funder: Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission
Due Dates (Anticipated): April 2027 (Full application)
Funding Amounts: $1,612,000 allocated for 2026–27; community college request caps range from $22,000 to $239,000
Summary: Supports financial aid for Tobacco Region residents pursuing workforce and post-secondary credentials tied to in-demand careers.
Key Information: Proposals are open to community colleges, designated higher education centers, and New College Institute serving the Tobacco Region.
Description
The Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission’s Workforce Financial Aid Program helps remove financial barriers for permanent residents of Tobacco Region localities pursuing nationally recognized workforce and post-secondary credentials required for employment with regional employers. Funding is made available through community colleges, the higher education centers in Southern and Southwest Virginia, and New College Institute.
The program’s first priority is short-term, non-credit workforce credentials approved by the Virginia Community College System under FastForward. It also supports specified STEM-H, advanced manufacturing, information technology dual-enrollment, and Commission-approved high-demand programs. Awards support tuition and mandatory fees, with limited support for eligible credential-testing fees.
