Tobacco commission grants can leave communities on the hook
(World News USA)

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — The executive director of a Virginia economic development commission bent rules to forgive a six-figure grant to a politically connected developer whose planned biofuel project didn`t pan out, documents obtained by The Associated Press show. The Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission`s Evan Feinman did not recoup $210,000 Chuck Lessin owed the state, according to a report from the Office of the State Inspector General. Feinman instead allowed Lessin`s unrelated work as a member of the Virginia Israel Advisory Board, which also promotes economic development, to count toward the money he owed when his Appalachian Biofuels project fell through. In an interview, Feinman...