Wednesday is Deadline for 1999 Phase II Applicants

RICHMOND (February 28, 2000) - Virginia tobacco producers and quota owners who are eligible for 1999 round two payments from the National Tobacco Grower Settlement Trust (Phase II) are reminded that completed applications must be postmarked by Wednesday, March 1. In December, the Virginia Tobacco Trust Certification Board, Inc. authorized a second round of 1999 payments for those producers and quota owners who submitted inaccurate or defective applications or did not return an application by the November deadline.

"This is the last opportunity for producers and quota owners to apply for the 1999 Phase II payment," said Don Anderson, President of the Virginia Tobacco Growers Association and a member of the board. "Those eligible farmers who do not apply for the 1999 payment will still be eligible for future Phase II payments, but we are encouraging producers and quota owners to put things in order now because we anticipate that this database may used for other payments."

In December 1999 the board certified payments totaling $21.6 million to Virginia tobacco producers and quota owners who applied for the 1999 payment. Approximately 40,000 checks, representing 90 percent of the $24 million available for the 1999 payment, were mailed to Virginia producers and quota owners on December 30. Virginia achieved one of the highest payment rates in the nation.

The Phase II settlement was reached July 19, 1999. The private settlement between the tobacco growing states and major cigarette manufacturers will provide up to $340 million in aid over twelve years to Virginia tobacco producers and quota owners. Governor Gilmore appointed the 14-member board July 30, 1999.

Virginia Tobacco Trust Certification Board, Inc.

Governor James S. Gilmore, III, Chair
J. Carlton Courter, III, Commissioner, Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Vice-Chairman
Attorney General Mark L. Earley, Secretary
U.S. Senator John Warner
U.S. Representative Virgil Goode (Virginia 5^th District)
State Senator Charles Hawkins (R - Chatham)
State Delegate William W. "Ted" Bennett (D - Halifax)
Don Anderson, President, Virginia Tobacco Growers Association (South Boston)
Walter Bass, Jr. Tobacco Farmer (Gladys)
C.D. Bryant, President, Concerned Friends for Tobacco (Blairs)
Fred Fields (Pennington Gap)
Jonathan Large (Ararat)
John Stallard, Allies for Tobacco (Nickelsville)
Tom West, Vice Chairman, Halifax County Board of Supervisors (Nathalie)