Virginia fairs willestablish and expand value-added, mutually owned agricultural businesses and cooperatives in rural areas by providing access to essential capital and technical assistance services

Virginia Foundation For Agriculture, Innovation & Rural Sustainability, operating as Virginia Fairs, received a $553,685.32 Project Grant award dated September 30, 2025, under the Rural Cooperative Development Grants program (CFDA 10.771) administered by the Institute of Youth, Family, and Community. The one-year award, with completion targeted for September 29, 2026, funds the establishment and expansion of value-added, mutually owned agricultural businesses and cooperatives in rural Virginia and the Mid-Atlantic region.

The center delivers technical assistance services through feasibility assessments, strategic planning, comprehensive business plan development, and grant writing support for new farmers, producers, cooperatives, and mutually owned businesses. Virginia Fairs also provides educational resources and networking opportunities to current and future agriculturalists through hosted workshops, meetings, and conferences addressing topics including value-added food processing and marketing, agritourism, business management, and rural economic development. The center creates publicly available topical resources and case studies while collaborating with other cooperative development organizations. These services collectively support four primary objectives: increasing market opportunities for rural Virginia businesses, supporting rural employment, ensuring healthy and safe food production, and inspiring agricultural innovation.

The project has two primary goals to improve economic conditions in rural virginia & the mid-atlantic region: 1) provide technical assistance for producers, producer groups, cooperatives, mutually owned businesses, and small businesses and 2) create educational resources and networking opportunities to engage current and future agriculturalist. The center will provide technical assistance through multiple avenues, including feasibility assessments, strategic planning, business plans, and grant writing for new farmers, producers, cooperatives, and mutually owned businesses.virginia fairs is committed to networking with other cooperative development centers and organizations involved in rural economic development. Center staff provide training and educational opportunities about business development for producers, while highlighting resources and center services. They host and assist with workshops, meetings, and conferences in virginia and across the mid-atlantic. Educational topics include value-added food processing and marketing, agritourism, business management, public and private financing options, and rural economic development opportunities. The center creates topical resources and case studies that are available to the public. The center strives to achieve sustainable rural development and explore new approaches to stimulating and sustaining rural producers, businesses and cooperatives. Together the two project focus areas will ultimately: 1) increase market opportunity for rural virginia businesses; 2) support rural jobs; 3) ensure production of healthy and safe food; 4) protect america's food, fuel, and fiber supply; and 4) inspire production innovation.