Governor
Terry McAuliffe has announced the awarding of two planning grants from the
Governor’s Agriculture & Forestry Industries Development Fund (AFID).
The two projects, one in Essex County and the other a partnership effort
between the Town of Purcellville and Loudoun County, have been awarded a total
of $34,500 to support the growth of agricultural and forestry projects in the
Commonwealth. The AFID planning grant program encourages local governments to
promote agriculture and forestry and incorporate the needs of these important
industries into their economic development planning efforts.
Speaking
about the planning grants being awarded to the localities, Governor McAuliffe
said, “Job creation and expanded economic development are the chief priorities
of my administration, and I plan to ensure that agriculture and forestry are a
major part of our efforts to grow and diversify our economy” said Governor
McAuliffe. “Supporting local efforts to strengthen these critical industries is
an important component of my economic development strategy, and I applaud
leadership in Essex County, Loudoun County, and the Town of Purcellville for
exploring how their agricultural assets can be better utilized and grown for
future job creation opportunities.”
The
AFID planning grants program, funded annually at $250,000, was developed in
2012 to encourage local and regional governments to think strategically about
how they can better support and integrate agriculture and forestry-based
industries into their community’s overall economic development efforts.
The planning grants are part of the larger Governor’s AFID program, an economic
development tool specifically for agriculture and forestry value-added or
processing projects. AFID economic development grants are available for
political subdivisions of the Commonwealth interested in growing their
agriculture and forestry industries by strategically targeting for assistance
those businesses that add value to Virginia grown agriculture and forestal
products.
“The
two projects are prime examples of what we hoped the AFID would do for
localities interested in building on their agricultural and forestry economic
assets,” said Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Todd P. Haymore. “Essex
County will utilize its grant funding to better incorporate agriculture and
forestry into their strategic economic development growth plans, a primary goal
of the AFID program. AFID funds will be used by the Town of Purcellville,
working in partnership with Loudoun County, to explore the creation of a
possible viticulture and enology center, an excellent example of seeking new
initiatives that can have lasting, positive impacts on a region’s agriculture
and forestry sectors.”
Applications
for AFID planning grants are accepted on a rolling basis throughout the fiscal
year. Successful funding requests must show a clear need to be addressed,
a solution to be undertaken, demonstrate strong support from local government
and the agriculture and forestry community, and be able to match each dollar
requested with a dollar of local government funds, or allowable in-kind
contributions. Localities interested in applying may visit http://vdacs.virginia.gov/agribusiness/planning.shtml
or contact Stephen Versen at stephen.versen@vdacs.virginia.gov
or 804.786.6911 for more information.
Details
on the two grant awards are below:
1.
Project Title: Loudoun County Viticulture and Enology Education Center
Applicant:
Town of Purcellville
Award:
$17,500
Summary:
The Town of Purcellville, with the support of Loudoun County, and in
conjunction with Northern Virginia Community College (NVCC), will conduct a
feasibility study for the development of a viticultural and enology education
center, using as a model the Shelton-Badgett North Carolina Center for
Viticulture & Enology. It would serve Virginia’s wine industry by
training the next generation of wine makers and vineyard managers through
certificate and degree programs.
2.
Project Title: Developing a Roadmap for Agriculture and Forestry Industries
in Essex County
Applicant:
Essex County Industrial Development Authority
Award:
$17,000
Summary:
Through a competitive bidding process, the Essex County Industrial Development
Authority (IDA) is proposing to hire a contractor to work with an appointed
Essex County Agriculture and Forestry Advisory Board to develop a strategic
plan for agriculture and forestry industries within Essex County. The
effort will help the County promote and enhance the competitiveness of its
agriculture and forestry industry.
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