Federal Grant Award Summary

Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University (Virginia Tech), in partnership with Virginia State University, received a $299,933 Project Grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) under the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) program (CFDA 10.310). The award, effective April 1, 2026 through March 31, 2028, funds the development of Virginia's regional food system coordination and resilience infrastructure.

The primary deliverables include facilitation of regional meetings and a statewide summit convening farmers, policymakers, planners, businesses, and community organizations to align local and regional food system efforts. The project team will develop a practical assessment tool enabling stakeholders to evaluate food system policies and programs based on shared priorities and local needs. Additionally, the grant funds establishment of a coordinating entity and foundational work for a comprehensive Virginia Food System Plan to guide future public and private investments. These outputs are designed to strengthen rural prosperity, improve food system preparedness, reduce supply chain vulnerabilities, and enhance the efficiency of taxpayer investments in agricultural and food infrastructure.