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The goal of the Governor’s Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development Fund (AFID) Planning Grant program is designed to support Virginia agriculture and forestry by:

• Funding innovative local efforts to assist agriculture- and forestry-based businesses, and
• Encouraging local governments and the ag/forestry community to work together on better integrating these industries their community’s overall economic development efforts.

The AFID Planning Grant program awards matching grants of up to $20,000 (single locality application) or $35,000 (multi-locality application) in partnership with local governments to promote or support agriculture and forestry through one or more of the following activities:

• Develop strategic plans, feasibility studies, business or marketing plans, or local ordinances
• Generate policies or programs for the preservation of working lands.
• Create local plans or initiatives supporting agriculture and/or forestry based businesses
• Fund innovative entrepreneurship and business development efforts
• Fund innovative entrepreneurship and business development efforts

While the Planning Grant program requires a 1:1 match, reduced match requirements are available for economically distressed localities. Interested localities should contact the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services for more information.

Resources

• AFID Planning Grant Guidelines (pdf)
• AFID Planning Grant Program Application (docx)

• AFID Planning Grant Budget Form (xlsx)