Notes from the Square: Tobacco Commission launches nonprofit to aid in grant applications

The Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission approved 38 funding requests and adopted a budget at its mid‑May Floyd meeting. A key outcome was the creation of the Foundation for Southern and Southwest Virginia, a new 501(c)(3) aimed at helping localities and organizations pursue federal and state grants. Commission funding will seed operations with a $400,000 grant for the first three years, after which the foundation will operate independently. Jordan Butler, the foundation’s CEO, said the move addresses capacity barriers that hinder grant applications in the region. The foundation will assist applicants seeking federal, state, or private philanthropic funding, a role the tobacco commission cannot perform as a political entity. The commission has awarded over 2,000 grants totaling more than $1.1 billion.