Description

The Governor’s Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development Fund (AFID) Infrastructure Program, administered by the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, supports community infrastructure that directly benefits local food production and sustainable agriculture and forestry. Competitive, reimbursable grants primarily fund capital projects at new and existing food hubs, farmers’ markets, commercial kitchens, and facilities processing or packaging Virginia agricultural products.

The program emphasizes broad community benefit, particularly facilities serving smaller, newer, or limited-resource farmers, ranchers, and food entrepreneurs; producers using sustainable practices; and startup farms and food enterprises. Priority project types include primarily locally owned processing facilities, farmers’ markets, and agricultural aggregation facilities. Projects benefiting multiple small-scale agricultural producers or located in economically distressed communities receive additional consideration. Small farmers, food producers, and local food advocates are encouraged to develop projects with their localities.