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(Article by Phyllis Noah, communications coordinator)

            For the seventh year, the Southern Ohio Agricultural & Community Development Foundation will offer its educational assistance program to eligible Ohio growers and quota owners of burley tobacco.
            The Ohio Appalachian Center for Higher Education will once again administer this Educational Assistance Program on behalf of the SOACDF. The program supplies tuition assistance for eligible applicants attending accredited institutions of higher education, or for pre-approved specialized training. In addition to degree programs, award recipients may participate in certificate programs and other approved training that will provide them with the skills they need to be competitive in today’s job market.
            Eligible applicants seeking an associate, bachelor’s, master’s or other professional degrees may receive up to $3,000 for tuition, room and board, lab fees and books. Eligible applicants taking coursework toward a non-degree certification, licensure or training program may receive up to a maximum of $1,000 with a class limit of one for the 2008-09 academic year. The total assistance provided for any family may not exceed $10,000 for the academic year.
            The application period is open until April 1, 2009 for eligible applicants attending in-state or out-of-state institutions. Because the funds are available on a first-come first-served basis, eligible applicants are encouraged to apply early to avoid the risk of unavailability of funds.
             All applications for the 2008-09 SOACDF Educational Assistance Program must be certified by the applicant’s FSA and are available at Farm Service Agencies, the SOACDF, the OACHE, the OSU Extension and Soil and Water offices throughout Southern Ohio. In addition, on-line applications are available at www.soacdf.net and www.oache.org.
             If you would like to learn more about this beneficial educational program for farmers and their families, contact the OACHE toll-free at (866) 466-2243.