Governor Terry McAuliffe has announced that three projects -
two to make locally grown produce available year round and one seeking to bring
a major poultry producer to Southside Virginia - were awarded $60,000 in
planning grants from the Governor’s Agriculture & Forestry Industries Development
Fund (AFID). The AFID planning grant program encourages local governments to
work with the agricultural community to identify projects and opportunities
that can bring important benefits to local producers, and the community as a
whole.
“Supporting Virginia’s diverse agricultural and forestry
sectors is a great way to expand and diversify our economy,” said Governor
McAuliffe. “Assisting localities in identifying potential new projects and
implementing programs that strengthen agriculture and forestry in their
communities and will contribute to building a 21st Century Virginia economy.
Laying the foundation for possibly larger future projects in these communities,
the relatively small, but important, amount of state support provided today
allows localities to plan strategically and creatively about how to incorporate
two of the state’s largest industries into their economic development efforts.”
The AFID planning grant 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 businesses
that add value to Virginia grown agriculture and forestal products.
“Partnering with local governments to leverage their
resources and innovative ideas on growing and supporting Virginia’s agriculture
and forestry industries, like we do with our AFID program, is good policy;”
said Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Todd P. Haymore. “From innovative
facilities that preserve locally grown produce for sale throughout the year to
recruiting a major new industry to Southside, the projects funded today
highlight the innovation and diversity of Virginia agriculture. Benefits from
allowing localities to explore and capitalize on these kinds of opportunities
have the potential to be felt throughout the business chain, from the
individual producer level to the value-adding enterprise."
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.
According to a 2013 economic impact study conducted by the
University of Virginia’s Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service, agriculture
and forestry are two of Virginia's largest industries, with a combined economic
impact of $70 billion annually.
Agriculture generates more than $52 billion per annum, while forestry
induces over $17 billion. The industries also provide more than 400,000 jobs in
the Commonwealth.
Details on the three grant awards are below:
1. Project
Title: Local Food Initiative
Applicant:
Franklin County
Award:
$15,000
Summary: Franklin
County is seeking an AFID Planning Grant to help Ferrum College implement a
shared vision for making locally produced food a part of the County’s economic
development strategy. Included in the
project is the operation of a flash freezer and storage freezer that will
assist in furthering use of local food production. This equipment will allow the College to
double their purchases of local foods, increasing their local sourcing for
campus food from an already impressive 30% to 60% from Virginia producers. In 2012, Ferrum College’s Dining Services
purchased $250,000 worth of product from local producers. The roughly $100,000 project is also
benefitting from $49,402 in Tobacco Commission funds. The project will allow for at least one
Full-Time Equivalent position on campus and provide additional access to local
foods for their 1,500 primarily-residential students and 300 faculty and
staff. Ferrum is also working with
Franklin County Public Schools on a pilot basis to provide fresh, local food to
them as well.
2. Project
Title: Virginia Produced: A Light Processing and Flash Freezing Hub for
Virginia-Grown Produce
Applicant: City
of Charlottesville and Albemarle County
Award:
$35,000
Summary: This
project will yield an actionable business plan for a flash freezing and light
food processing hub, building on a feasibility study already completed by the
Jefferson Area Board for Aging. The resulting business entity would source
Albemarle County and Virginia-grown produce supplied by the Local Food Hub and
distribute flash frozen bulk and retail packs and prepared meals to
institutional customers such as the University of Virginia, Virginia Area
Agencies on Aging, and specialty grocery retailers such as Whole Foods. Growers stand to benefit through greater
demand for their crops and exposure to new purchasers. Local, wholesome food could be available year
round for consumption by the local community.
3. Project
Title: Integrated Poultry Industry Feasibility Study
Applicant:
Pittsylvania County
Award:
$10,000
Summary: To
conduct an in-depth and independent feasibility study focused on attracting
integrated poultry companies to Pittsylvania County. The study will inventory which companies are
considering expanding, how and where a poultry complex could be located, which
attributes of an area are attractive to poultry companies, and how the county
can enhance its profile and marketing strategies to lobby these poultry
companies. This feasibility study and
the data it produces will be utilized to develop promotional pieces and to
assist the county in the manner best suited to invite an integrator to Southern
Virginia.
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