Fourteen AFID-funded projects will expand processing capacity, improve market access and support farmers across the Commonwealth
RICHMOND, Va. — Virginia is investing more than $507,000 in agriculture and food infrastructure projects across 14 localities, supporting efforts to strengthen regional food systems, expand processing capacity and improve market access for farmers and producers.
Governor Abigail Spanberger announced the latest round of Governor’s Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development Fund Infrastructure Grants, commonly known as AFID Infrastructure Grants. The funding will support projects ranging from livestock and wood-products processing facilities to shared-use commercial kitchens, farmers markets, cold-storage facilities, produce packing operations and a new regional livestock marketing complex.
“The success of Virginia agriculture depends on the ability of all farmers across the Commonwealth to succeed,” said Gov. Abigail Spanberger. “These infrastructure grants are extremely beneficial for the state’s small and mid-size farms, helping to bridge the gap between farmers and consumers.”
Spanberger said investments in modern local food infrastructure support both agricultural producers and communities by increasing access to fresh, locally grown food.
Infrastructure Investments Target Supply Chain Gaps
The grants are designed to improve the infrastructure connecting Virginia farmers, food producers and customers.
Projects funded through this round will expand cold storage, food processing, distribution, transportation, agricultural education and retail capabilities in communities throughout the Commonwealth.
“Each of these projects shares a common goal of improving and diversifying market access for producers,” said Virginia Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Katie Frazier. “By growing markets and expanding the customer base, these projects spur economic development, encourage entrepreneurship, and help create new jobs in rural areas of the state.”
Frazier added that investments in cold storage, transportation networks and processing infrastructure can also reduce food waste, lower costs and create more resilient agricultural supply chains.
The AFID Infrastructure Grant Program is administered by the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and provides reimbursable funding to local governments for qualifying agriculture and forestry infrastructure projects.
Eligible projects can include farmers markets, food aggregation and distribution operations, locally owned processing facilities and organizations that market food products sourced primarily from local and regional producers.
Virginia AFID Infrastructure Grant Recipients
Albemarle County — Bellair Farms Coldlink Collaborative
Grant: $11,000
Bellair Farms will purchase a refrigerated box truck to help increase pork production and improve transportation between partner businesses Stock Provisions and Honest Meats. The investment is expected to strengthen the farm’s ability to serve multiple customer channels.
Appomattox County — Appomattox FFA Alumni Agricultural Complex
Grant: $50,000
Funding will support construction of a more than 12,500-square-foot multi-purpose agricultural complex operated by the Appomattox FFA Alumni Association.
The facility will serve as a regional livestock aggregation, training and marketing center for cattle, swine, sheep and goat producers throughout Central Virginia.
Bedford County — EcoFriendly Foods Initiative
Grant: $38,678
EcoFriendly Foods will use the grant to replace the roof and upgrade electrical infrastructure at its meat-processing facility.
The improvements are expected to increase processing capacity, improve operational efficiency and expand cold-storage capabilities.
Carroll County — Cannery Equipment and Learning Initiative
Grant: $50,000
Carroll County will modernize its public-use community cannery with new equipment, including an extractor, blancher, dishwasher and sink.
The county will also convert an existing break room into a dedicated education and training space to support small-scale commercial food production.
City of Covington — The Nettleton Property
Grant: $50,000
Covington is renovating an underused building into a shared-use produce packing and processing facility designed to help small growers access wholesale, institutional and retail markets.
Funding will support renovations and installation of a wash-and-pack bay, walk-in cooler, automated packaging equipment and value-added processing areas.
Grayson County — Farm to School and Value-Added Processing Initiative
Grant: $38,595
Grayson County will establish a food-processing facility within the Grayson Agriculture, Technology, and Educational Center.
The project includes cold-storage and aggregation equipment that will allow locally sourced agricultural products to be received and staged for school meals and value-added processing.
The additional storage capacity will also support other users of the center’s shared-use commercial kitchen.
Northampton County — Pearl Market
Grant: $50,000
The Pearl Market project will establish a shared-use food hub and aquaculture-processing facility serving multiple agricultural producers.
Funding will support health and safety infrastructure improvements as well as refrigeration and processing equipment.
Orange County — Furniture By Design Expansion
Grant: $25,000
Furniture By Design will create expanded wood-processing capabilities that allow local producers and small businesses to dry their own lumber and purchase locally sourced, kiln-dried wood.
AFID funding will support installation of a new kiln and construction of lumber-storage buildings.
Page County — Page Valley Food & Visitor Hub
Grant: $50,000
Page County is developing the Page Valley Food & Visitor Hub, a county-owned and locally operated shared-use commercial kitchen designed to support food businesses and value-added agricultural production.
Grant funding will be used for mechanical improvements, a grease interceptor hookup, installation of a three-bay sink, electrical upgrades and food-grade flooring.
Powhatan County — Twin Oaks Farm Store
Grant: $10,000
Powhatan County is partnering with Twin Oaks Wagyu Beef Farm to install a backup generator and propane tank at the farm’s new retail store.
The backup power system will help protect perishable agricultural products during power outages. The store will also sell products from other local producers, including ice cream and honey.
Russell County — Redbud Creamery
Grant: $10,000
Redbud Creamery, a micro goat dairy producing cheese, Grade A yogurt and pasteurized goat milk, will use funding to expand its processing capacity.
Equipment purchases will include two 15-gallon vat pasteurizers, compliant digital thermometers, a 30-gallon cooling bulk tank and additional refrigeration.
The expansion is expected to support new product lines and additional employment.
Town of Kenbridge — Kenbridge Farmers Market Expansion Project
Grant: $50,000
Kenbridge will expand and improve its farmers market through upgrades including new electrical outlets, lighting, ceiling and circulation fans, concrete flooring and additional vendor space.
The improvements are designed to increase capacity, accessibility and comfort for farmers, vendors and shoppers.
Town of New Market — New Market Downtown Marketplace
Grant: $50,000
New Market will use AFID funding to support construction of a permanent Downtown Marketplace Pavilion.
Plans call for a 40-by-80-foot covered open-air pavilion and an ADA-compliant restroom facility. The marketplace will serve as a year-round venue for farmers, vendors, community events and public gatherings.
Virginia Beach — Creekmore’s Place Farm to Table Project
Grant: $24,249
Virginia Beach will support development of a commercial kitchen for the Creekmore’s Place Farm to Table Kitchen Project.
Funding will help purchase refrigeration units, stainless-steel preparation stations, cooking equipment and food-safe storage.
The facility will purchase products from nearby small farmers and provide space to wash, package, label and prepare locally grown produce for resale.
Virginia Expands Support for Local Agriculture
The latest AFID awards reflect Virginia’s broader effort to strengthen agricultural supply chains by investing in infrastructure that helps smaller producers process, store, distribute and sell their products.
By addressing infrastructure gaps at the local and regional level, the projects are expected to provide farmers with greater market access while supporting entrepreneurship, food-system resilience and rural economic development across Virginia.
