The Virginia Food Access Investment Program and Fund (VFAIF) is a statewide program created in 2020 by the General Assembly that seeks to support local food systems by investing in projects that improve retail access to fresh foods in low-income areas with poor access to these foods. The VFAIF Program awards grants of up to $50,000 for the construction, rehabilitation, equipment upgrades, or expansion of grocery stores, small food retailers, or innovative food retail projects in underserved, resource-limited communities. VFAIF-funded projects must have a retail component, accept federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, and participate in the Virginia Fresh Match nutrition incentives program.

Objectives of the program include:

• Improve access to fresh foods and reduce food deserts across the Commonwealth;
• Create wealth and leadership in low-income and low-access communities;
• Improve access to capital in low-income, low-access, and vulnerable communities, including for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color;
• Assess, support, and transform existing or potential businesses into sustainable community-informed businesses;
• Foster innovative solutions that uplift and share successful food business models; and
• Reduce food insecurity, strengthen food systems, and improve health outcomes for low-income and low-access communities.

VIRGINIA FOOD ACCESS INVESTMENT FUND (LARGE SCALE RETAIL) GRANTS

Virginia Food Access Investment Fund (VFAIF) program that will extend grant opportunities to large-scale retailers that are committed to equitable food access in the Commonwealth. Administered by the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS), the VFAIF program supports local food systems by investing in new or expanding food retailers that address food access issues in Virginia in underserved, resource-limited communities. The VFAIF (Large-Scale Retailer) program is a unique grant opportunity that is focused on low-income and low-access communities. Specifically, VFAIF and EFOD are focused on low-income, low-access communities which have been disproportionately affected by unequal investment and growth, including a lack of access to capital.

GRANT DOCUMENTS

Note: The Pre-Proposal Window is now closed.

• VFAIF - Frequently Asked Questions

VFAIF Standard

• VFAIF STANDARD - Grant Guidelines (PDF)
• VFAIF STANDARD - Evaluation Rubric (PDF)

VFAIF Large-Scale

• VFAIF LARGE SCALE - Grant Guidelines (PDF)
• VFAIF LARGE SCALE - Evaluation Rubric (PDF)

RESOURCES

• Introduction to the Food Access Research Atlas
• FeedVA
• How to become a SNAP retailer
• Learn more about Virginia Fresh Match
• Locus Impact Fund
• Shop Smart, Eat Smart Healthy Food Retail Initiative

Local Produce Aggregators:

• 4P Foods
• Virginia Black Farmer Directory

Contact

Keisha Williams, Grant Specialist
804.786.2776
keisha.williams@vdacs.virginia.gov