AFID Infrastructure Grants

The Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development Fund Infrastructure Grant Program provides competitive reimbursable grants to support infrastructure projects that strengthen Virginia’s agricultural economy. The program is administered by the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services under the direction of the Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry. Its purpose is to expand capacity for local food systems and sustainable agriculture through investment in facilities that benefit producers, processors, and communities. Grants are designed to enhance economic opportunities by funding improvements that increase efficiency, access to markets, and long-term viability for Virginia’s farmers and food enterprises. The program emphasizes capital projects that directly support local food production and value-added agriculture. Eligible projects include construction, renovation, or equipment investments in farmers’ markets, food hubs, commercial kitchens, and processing or packaging facilities for meats, dairy, produce, and other products sourced from Virginia farms. Priority is given to projects that serve multiple small-scale producers, expand access to aggregation and distribution infrastructure, or are located in economically distressed areas. Funds must be used primarily for capital expenditures, with detailed allowable and unallowable costs outlined in the program guidelines. Eligibility is limited to political subdivisions of the Commonwealth of Virginia, including counties, cities, towns, planning district commissions, and economic or industrial development authorities. Localities may apply jointly if each contributes matching funds, with one serving as the lead applicant. Each applicant is limited to one award per funding round, though multiple concurrent awards are allowed across different rounds if the locality is in good standing with prior grants. The program requires a match, generally on a dollar-for-dollar basis, though economically distressed localities or projects benefiting multiple small producers may qualify for a reduced match ratio. Up to half of the match may be in-kind or come from other qualified sources, including federal grants or nonprofit contributions. Applications must be submitted during open funding rounds, held semi-annually in fall and spring. The fall 2025 application period runs from October 1 to October 31, closing at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Awards from this round are expected to be announced no later than December 31, 2025. Successful applicants will receive a Memorandum of Agreement outlining the project period and reporting obligations. Awardees have two years to complete project deliverables, with a possible one-year extension available upon request. Interim reports are required at the one-year mark, and final reports must be submitted with complete financial documentation before final reimbursement is made. Evaluation of applications is competitive and based on project purpose, community benefit, alignment with priority areas, demonstrated support, and likelihood of success. Applicants must use the official program application form and budget template. Allowable expenses include construction, renovations, special-purpose equipment, and eligible personnel costs tied to project activities. Unallowable costs include land or building purchases, marketing expenses, and unrelated overhead. Reimbursements may be drawn periodically during the grant period, though no more than 75 percent of funds may be disbursed prior to final reporting. Program management is handled by the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Office of Agriculture and Forestry Development. The primary program contact for this round is Joyce Blankenship, Project Manager, who can be reached by phone at 804-786-1906 or by email at joyce.blankenship@vdacs.virginia.gov. Applications and inquiries may also be directed to Rachel Meyers, Program Manager, at rachel.meyers@vdacs.virginia.gov. Full guidelines, application forms, and additional resources are available on the department’s website. The official program guidelines document can be accessed at https://www.vdacs.virginia.gov/pdf/AFID-infrastructure-grant-guidelines.pdf.

Strong applications demonstrate broad community benefit, multiple producer involvement, and alignment with priority project types such as food hubs and farmers’ markets