Virginia Announces $264,000 in Grants to Boost Local Food Production

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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.

Learn more about the AFID Grant Program

Stay Connected: VT CALS Research Monthly Newsletter Now Available

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Virginia farmers and agricultural professionals, we have an exciting opportunity to keep your finger on the pulse of cutting-edge agricultural research and innovation!

The Virginia Tech College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (VT CALS) has launched a new monthly newsletter, VT CALS Research Monthly, designed to keep you informed about the latest developments in agricultural science and education.

What You’ll Discover in Each Issue

By subscribing, you’ll receive regular updates on:

  • Groundbreaking agricultural research and innovative solutions
  • Upcoming events, workshops and professional development opportunities
  • Remarkable achievements of VT CALS students and faculty
  • Community outreach initiatives and critical industry partnerships

Subscribe to VTCALS Research News Today

Whether you’re a producer, educator or agricultural professional, these insights can help you stay ahead of the curve and connected to the latest advancements in our field. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to expand your knowledge and stay informed about the work happening at Virginia Tech’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

Virginia Farm Bureau statement on USDA funding, staffing

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The following is a statement from Virginia Farm Bureau President Scott Sink, regarding recent funding and staffing changes at the U.S. Department of Agriculture and its affiliated agencies.

Virginia Farm Bureau has been actively following announcements from USDA related to availability of conservation funding to farmers, and staffing changes at the agency. We are engaging with USDA leadership, elected officials, and partners to advance Farm Bureau policy and priorities in this area.

Most recently, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced USDA will release certain funds for conservation program contracts that the agency entered into with farmers and ranchers.

We are thankful the administration recognized the importance of making good on the first tranche of agreements, and we look forward to future announcements about fulfilling previously signed contracts. The freezing of funds created uncertainty for farm families who have invested in projects and practices on their farms based on USDA contracts and financial commitment from the federal government. They need to know the government will hold up its end of the bargain.

Regarding staffing, reports are still coming in about staff reductions at USDA, which we know are causing concern in rural and farming communities. We support the goal of efficient government; however, we urge the administration to be strategic in how they address staffing. USDA staff play a critical role in both the safety and reliability of our food and other products. Vital USDA functions range from food inspectors and animal disease experts to loan officers and disaster recovery experts, and they all help ensure that we continue to have a safe and stable food supply.

Last week, I traveled to Washington with a delegation of farmers from Virginia and other mid-Atlantic states to meet with Secretary Rollins. We conveyed concerns over funding and staffing issues, discussed other concerns and opportunities facing farmers, and shared priorities we hope to see this administration tackle. We were pleased to hear from Secretary Rollins about her commitment to listening to farmers and tackling the industry’s challenges. We stand ready to work with her.

In 2025, we face the need for a new, modernized farm bill that ensures animal health in the face of growing disease pressure, expands global trade, and addresses other priority challenges. Virginia Farm Bureau stands ready to advocate on farmers’ behalf and to ensure the Virginia agriculture and forestry industries have the policies, tools, services and opportunities they need to be successful.

2025 General Assembly Update: Wrap-Up

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The General Assembly adjourned, sine die, on Saturday, February 22 after debating nearly 2,500 bills and reaching an agreement on amendments to the biennial budget. Legislators have sent just under 1,000 bills over to the Governor who has 30 days to sign, veto or amend legislation. The House and Senate will reconvene for “veto” session on April 2. There were several challenges legislators faced this year from water outages delaying the start of session, multiple snowstorms, to heavy debates on energy within the Commonwealth. And, now, it’s time for our final session update. 

2025 General Assembly Update: Week 6

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It’s the final stretch of the General Assembly 2025 session! As we enter Week Six the final bills from each chamber will move through committees and conferees will be named to work out the final agreements between each body’s bill versions. As the bill numbers have dwindled down, we have some updates below on those that moved over from the Senate to the House and vice versa.