Virginia Tobacco Commission awards $300,000 to community college program

A program that helps foster-care youths continue their education has received a $300,000 grant from the Virginia Tobacco Commission.

The two-year grant to Great Expectations, an initiative of the state's community colleges, will allow the program to be expanded to four community colleges in Southwest and southern Virginia. Mountain Empire, Patrick Henry, Southwest Virginia and Wytheville community colleges will establish transitional education programs next summer.

Southside, Danville and Virginia Highlands community colleges also offer the programs, which provide access to college education and work-force training for current and former foster-care youths ages 18 to 24.

Virginia has the highest percentage in the nation of teens aging out of the foster-care system without any family support, according to the Virginia Community College System.

The Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission awarded the grant. It uses proceeds from the national tobacco settlement to promote economic development in tobacco-dependent communities.

-- Karin Kapsidelis