Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced $264,000 in matching grants to support six community infrastructure projects focused on strengthening local food production and sustainable agriculture.

The funding, provided through the Governor’s Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development (AFID) Fund Infrastructure Grant program, will enhance markets and food distribution while expanding access to locally grown food across the commonwealth.

“[These grants] are pivotal in providing targeted support to communities who want to create innovative solutions to local, healthy food access,” Youngkin said. “We are proud to invest in the efforts of these dedicated food leaders.”

The competitive grants will support projects in six localities:

• Abingdon: $50,000 to enclose and heat the town’s farmers market, transforming it into a year-round facility with weather-resistant curtain walls, tracked doors and a two-bay sink.
• Bath County: $50,000 to establish The Village Kitchen, a fully equipped shared-use commissary kitchen and food aggregator that will help local farmers and food businesses scale their operations.
• Cumberland County: $32,678 to upgrade the farmers market at the Luther P. Jackson Community Center, including flooring protection, electrical improvements, new lighting, doors and signage.
• Newport News: $50,000 for the SIP Seafood Market’s commercial kitchen and fresh seafood retail area, covering purchases of ice machines, refrigeration units and food display equipment.
• Onancock: $31,943 to purchase equipment and a prefabricated building to house a winter market, creating a year-round food hub for farmers and food vendors.
• Prince William County: $49,450 to support Sunshine Honey Farm’s expansion from a small farm stand to a brick-and-mortar market selling meat, eggs, honey and vegetables.

“It’s so important that we help our farmers and small food producers get their products to consumers, especially consumers in their local community,” said Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Matthew Lohr. “These grants support farm income, strengthen local economies, and increase residents’ access to fresh local foods.”

Created by the General Assembly in 2021, the AFID Infrastructure Grant program partners with local governments to develop community infrastructure supporting small-scale farmers and food producers. Applications for the next round of grants will be accepted in spring 2025.