Loudoun Wins Grant To Help Local Agriculture During Coronavirus

LOUDOUN COUNTY, VA — Loudoun County received a grant of $20,000 from Virginia's Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development Fund Planning Grant program to support local agriculture amid the coronavirus crisis.

The grant will help agricultural producers mitigate the short-term impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and prepare for future growth by providing support as they establish methods for marketing and selling their products online, the governor's office said.

Loudoun County will launch a new e-commerce platform, “Loudoun Made, Loudoun Grown Marketplace,” to better connect farmers with the region’s consumers and provide support through advertising, technical assistance and establishing drop-off locations.

“Our administration is committed to using every tool at our disposal to support Virginia’s agricultural and forestry industries during these uncertain and challenging times,” Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam said in a statement.

In June, Governor Northam announced newly revised guidelines to better equip the Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development Fund Planning Grant program to function as a resource for local governments seeking to assist their agricultural communities during the coronavirus crisis. This included expediting the review and award process for applications that address challenges related to the public health crisis.

The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, which administers the AFID Planning Grant program, is accepting applications on a rolling basis. Successful applications will demonstrate a clear need, a proposed solution, strong support from local government and the agriculture and forestry community, and the ability to provide matching funds.

Questions about the program and application process should be sent to Jennifer.Perkins@vdacs.virginia.gov.