The Ohio Appalachian Center for Higher Education (OACHE) has entered into an agreement with the Southern Ohio Agricultural and Community Development Foundation (SOACDF) to administer a $2 million educational assistance pilot project for tobacco growers, their dependents and owners of tobacco quotas.

A public informational hearing to explain the program and how to apply will be held at 7 p.m. today at Ohio University Southern Campus, in Bowman Auditorium in Collins Center.

The pilot project was created by the SOACDF, using funds from Ohio's tobacco master settlement agreement.

The educational assistance pilot project will assist tobacco farmers who have suffered the economic impact of reductions in quotas in recent years. The funds are intended to help these individuals acquire skills to enter new or supplemental income-generating occupations and to help put their dependents through college. The funds will likely be concentrated in those counties in southern Ohio where burley tobacco has traditionally been grown.

"The OACHE applauds the Southern Ohio Agricultural and Community Development Foundation for initiating this program to provide a means for college access to those related to growing tobacco," said Wayne White, OACHE executive director.

White went on to quote OACHE advocate Bob Evans, who is convinced that college is the path to a better quality of life.

"Bob Evans often says, 'The days when hard work alone will get you there are gone,'" he said.

Under the terms of the new program, recipients will be able to use their awards to help pay for education and training at any accredited higher-education institution that is Pell-Grant eligible -- whether in-state or out-of-state. In addition to degree programs, students may participate in certificate or other training in such areas as the artificial insemination of livestock or a commercial driver's license.

The program will provide up to $5,000 in educational assistance to tobacco growers -- those who do the day-to-day farming of tobacco, whether or not they own the tobacco quota. The dependents of those tobacco growers, including spouses and dependent children, will be eligible for up to $2,500 each. Owners of tobacco quotas who do not participate in the farming operation, but lease their quotas to others will be eligible for up to $1,000, as will their dependents. The total assistance provided to any family may not exceed $10,000.

All awards will be "last-dollar" scholarships -- applicants will be expected to apply for all state and federal financial aid for which they are eligible and the actual award may not exceed the financial need calculated by the educational institution's financial aid office. Awards may not supplant other grants and scholarships, although they may supplant student loans.

The OACHE will provide the day-to-day administration of the scholarship application process, while the SOACDF will establish the criteria, select scholarship recipients and issue the awards.

"I'm excited about this unique opportunity for the Foundation to provide grant dollars for educational assistance to Ohio's tobacco farm families," noted Don Branson, executive director of the SOACDF. "I want to commend the Foundation's Board of Trustees for their considerable insight and commitment to such a worthy project. This is an investment in Appalachian Ohio that will pay dividends well into the future."

For more information about the SOACDF educational assistance pilot program, contact the OACHE at 1-866-GO-OACHE or visit www.oache.org From staff reports