By Lewis Loflin
In 2014, I critiqued the Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission (TICR) for its persistent failure to transform Southwest Virginia’s economy. Despite spending hundreds of millions since 2000, the commission’s projects—like a $900,000 movie subsidy for tourism—yielded little for struggling residents. The 2008 Blue Ribbon Review exposed systemic issues: untracked outcomes, unaudited grants, and negligible economic impact. As we reflect in 2025, these challenges linger, underscoring the need for accountability and community-focused investment.
Southwest Virginia, including Congressional District 9, faces entrenched poverty, low educational attainment, and job scarcity. My 2014 piece argued that TICR’s missteps exacerbated these issues. Today, we must learn from those failures to build a more equitable future.
The 2008 Blue Ribbon Review Panel offered a sobering assessment of TICR’s efforts:
Economic Impact Difficult to Measure; Meaningful outcomes data not collected by TICR for 89% of awards; Many projects too recent to yield benefits; $372M awarded since 2008; TICR’s exact contribution to revitalization difficult to gauge.
Source: Blue Ribbon Review Panel, April 17, 2008.
Shockingly, 89% of grants lacked audits as of 2008, a problem unresolved by 2014. From 2000 to 2008, TICR spent $432 million on over 900 “revitalization” projects, yet the region saw no transformative change. For more on specific missteps, see my related article: Can’t Buy a Job: Virginia Wastes $900,000 on Movie.
Without oversight or clear metrics, TICR’s spending often benefited a small elite, leaving most residents in economic limbo.
The Blue Ribbon report detailed Southwest Virginia’s challenges:
Congressional District 9 has much higher percentages of population over age 25 with no high school degree, and much lower percentages with bachelor’s degrees... A number of localities have much larger numbers of students in the ninth grade than in the twelfth grade three years later... It is likely that most of these students are dropping out.
Source: Blue Ribbon Review Panel, 2008.
High dropout rates and out-migration left behind a less educated, less motivated population. While service industries grew, wages remained below state averages, driving degree-holders away. By 2014, TICR’s $400 million-plus investment had failed to shift this trajectory, with unemployment and poverty still rampant.
James A. Bacon, writing for Bacon’s Rebellion, echoed my concerns:
Not only has the Commission failed to “transform” the Southside/Southwest Virginia economy, it has squandered many of its resources. By keeping the old economy on life support, it has failed to steer sufficient resources into the new economy.
Source: Bacon’s Rebellion, 2008.
Bacon’s critique highlighted TICR’s focus on short-term fixes over sustainable growth, a pattern evident in 2014’s movie subsidy and other questionable grants.
Southwest Virginia’s economy remains fragile. Poverty rates hover around 15-20% in parts of District 9, and educational gaps persist. TICR, now called the Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission, has made some reforms, but accountability remains a concern. Recent data suggests continued challenges in tracking outcomes, with many projects still favoring connected stakeholders over broad community benefit.
The region’s potential—its resilient people and natural beauty—demands better. Misspent funds, like the $900,000 movie grant, could have supported job training or small businesses, directly aiding residents.
To revitalize Southwest Virginia, TICR must pivot:
| Action | Impact |
|---|---|
| Mandatory audits | Ensures accountable spending |
| Education investment | Reduces dropout rates |
| Local job programs | Retains talent, boosts wages |
| Community grants | Empowers small businesses |
Auditing every grant would restore trust. Funding schools and vocational training would keep young people engaged. Supporting local entrepreneurs over flashy projects would create lasting jobs.
Southwest Virginia deserves leadership that prioritizes its people. By redirecting resources to education, jobs, and transparency, we can unlock the region’s potential. Let’s demand accountability in 2025 for a stronger, fairer future.
Acknowledgment: I’d like to thank Grok, an AI by xAI, for helping me draft and refine this article. The final edits and perspective are my own.
