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Fact Sheet



  • The National Tobacco Grower Settlement Trust, Phase II, is a private agreement between 14 tobacco growing states and four cigarette manufacturers made in July 1999, that will help compensate tobacco producers and quota owners for revenue losses.


  • Phase II is separate from Phase I of the Master Settlement Agreement which was negotiated between 46 attorney generals and the cigarette manufacturers. For Phase I questions, call the Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission at 1-877-807-1086.


  • Phase II is also separate from the Tobacco Loss Assistance Program, TLAP. For TLAP questions, call your local USDA Farm Service Agency office.


  • In Virginia, the settlement is administered by the Virginia Tobacco Trust Certification Board, Inc. The board's chair is Virginia Governor Mark A. Warner. McGuireWoods, LLP is legal counsel to the board and Mellon Investor Services is responsible for processing and disbursing funds.


  • Virginia tobacco producers and quota owners can expect to receive $340 million of the $5.15 billion to be distributed during the 12 years of the program.


  • The Phase II program is a 12-year process with payments being made to certified tobacco growers and quota owners on an annual basis. All growers and owners who with to participate in the program, which began in 1999, must be certified each year by the Virginia Tobacco Trust Certification Board, Inc. in order to receive funds from the Phase II Trust.


  • Generally, the certification process takes place in the fall of each year. Certification forms are generally mailed in mid- to late September to growers and owners who participated in previous years.


  • Deadline for 2003 applications is October 21, 2003.


  • For the 1999 payment, the Virginia Tobacco Trust Certification board made a second-round payment for those eligible producers and quota owners who either did not apply by the first deadline or submitted inaccurate or defective applications. There was not a second round of payments in 2000-2002, but there will be a second round in 2003.


  • If you have questions about your certification forms, please contact Mellon Investor Services at 1-800-736-7197 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.