Browse Ambrook’s collection of funding programs by West Virginia Department of Agriculture

To apply, complete the Rural Rehab Loan Fund Application and submit it with a business plan and a cover letter explaining the loan request and collateral. Applicants should email completed PDF applications to Susan Baxter, Loan Program Coordinator, at sbaxter@wvda.us. To have an application sent by mail or for questions about the loan program, contact Susan Baxter at (304) 558-2221 or sbaxter@wvda.us.

Susan Baxter

Loan Program Coordinator

The West Virginia Rural Rehabilitation Loan Fund (WVRRLF), administered by the West&#x2004;Virginia Department of Agriculture, is a low-interest loan program designed to assist emerging agribusinesses and to help existing agribusinesses, farm operations, livestock operations, or any other ag-related endeavors approved by the Commissioner with expansion plans. Loans are available for a variety of agricultural purposes. Examples of WV agribusinesses the fund has assisted include a manufacturer of baking mixes (commercial equipment purchase), a hydroponic operation (greenhouses and equipment), a slaughter operation (property purchase), multiple family farms (property, equipment, and buildings), a pet treat manufacturer (equipment), and a hemp farm (equipment and buildings).



The West Virginia Rural Rehabilitation Loan Fund (WVRRLF), administered by the West Virginia Department of Agriculture, is a low-interest loan program designed to assist emerging agribusinesses and to help existing agribusinesses, farm operations, livestock operations, or any other ag-related endeavors approved by the Commissioner with expansion plans. Loans are available for a variety of agricultural purposes. Examples of WV agribusinesses the fund has assisted include a manufacturer of baking mixes (commercial equipment purchase), a hydroponic operation (greenhouses and equipment), a slaughter operation (property purchase), multiple family farms (property, equipment, and buildings), a pet treat manufacturer (equipment), and a hemp farm (equipment and buildings).

Eligible borrowers include emerging agribusinesses and existing agribusinesses, farm operations, livestock operations, or any other ag-related endeavors approved by the Commissioner that have expansion plans. The staff in the WVDA Ag Business Department is available to assist applicants with the business plan.

A payment that must be returned to the provider following specified terms of repayment and interest rate.

Loan

HVAC

Lighting

Repairs

Infrastructure

Maximum loan: "The maximum amount which can be loaned to any one borrower (individual/corporation/partnership) is $250,000, except in extraordinary agricultural development opportunities. The Commissioner must rule on the merits of such requests." No minimum loan size is published.

Interest rate: "Interest rates are set using the Wall Street Journal prime rate as a guide. Interest rates shall be fixed for the term of the loan." WVDA does not publish a fixed spread or a current rate — you are given the terms after the WVRRLF Committee reviews your application.

Term: "Loans should be of no more than 20 years in duration." The application asks for your "Requested Repayment Terms (not to exceed 20 years)" and lets you propose the repayment schedule (monthly, quarterly, etc.).

Collateral and guarantees: "All loans shall be secured by sufficient collateral." Loans to partnerships must be personally guaranteed by each partner, with the remaining partners becoming wholly responsible if one cannot meet their obligations; loans to corporations must be guaranteed personally by each member of the Board of Directors. Loans may also require letters of credit, credit insurance, or other collateral as approved by the WVRRLF Committee.

Fees: there is no published application fee, but "[l]oan applicants will be responsible for paying any fees associated with processing the loan, such as, but not limited to, recording fees, title reports, surveys, appraisals and credit checks."

Eligible uses: "real estate, livestock, machinery, equipment, supplies or materials necessary for the business, and special purpose structures required for the production or processing of agricultural commodities and products, or for the development of cottage industries."

Terms are per the WVRRLF Policy Statement signed by the Commissioner (dated 11/13/18) and carried in the current application packet; the Trustee reserves the right to change them at his discretion.

Complete the FY2026 SCBG Application per the Instruction Manual (with the Grantee Self-Assessment, Attachment A) and submit to WVDA. FY2026 applications were due Friday, January 30, 2026 at 4:00 PM, with grants awarded September 2026. Biennial cycle. Questions: 304-558-2210 or grants@wvda.us. Forms at agriculture.wv.gov.

The Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP), administered by the West Virginia Department of Agriculture (WVDA) with USDA Agricultural Marketing Service funds, awards competitive grants that enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops — fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, and horticulture/nursery crops including floriculture. Applications are competitively reviewed before selection and submission to USDA.



West Virginia specialty crop stakeholders (producers, businesses, nonprofits, and institutions) proposing eligible specialty crop projects. Grants run on a two-year cycle in West Virginia; the maximum award for any grant is $100,000.

A lump sum of money for a specific purpose that does not need to be paid back.

Grant

Certification

Distribution

Diversification

Events

Trade Show

Farmers Market

Trials

Certified Organic

Trade Relief

Food Systems

Two live WVDA sources give different ceilings. The FY2026 Instruction Manual (the Request for Applications) is the operative document for the current cycle and sets tiered awards with a tiered match:

- "Tier 1-$1,000-$15,000-micro grants (no match required)"
- "Tier 2-$15,001-$50,000-intermediate grants (10% match required)"
- "Tier 3-$50,001-$75,000-large grants (25% match required)"

Match rules: "Funds from other federal sources MAY NOT be used to meet the match requirement." It must be satisfied with "CASH — for example, funds contributed from private sources or state and local governments such as a portion of someone's salary, or IN-KIND SERVICES — for example, services and goods donated by the applicant organization or other entities such as a volunteer, or donated food," and must be "directly related to the project goals and objectives." Critically, the "[a]mount of match required is calculated as a percentage (10% or 25%) of the total project cost (the sum of grant funds and match funds), NOT just the amount of grant funds requested." WVDA's own worked example: "$75,000 divided by .75=$100,000-Total Project; $100,000 minus $75,000=$25,000-25% match required for $75,000 grant request."

The program landing page states a different, higher cap: "Grant are on a two-year cycle in West Virginia and the maximum amount for any grant is $100,000." That conflicts with the FY2026 manual's $75,000 top tier — flagged for a human to confirm which figure governs (award.max in this record is still the landing page's $100,000).

Ineligible costs: "Costs for general administrative, accounting or indirect costs are not" allowed. Equipment is defined as items with a useful life "of more than one year, and an acquisition cost that equals or exceeds $5,000."

Round size, for scale: "The West Virginia Department of Agriculture (WVDA) anticipates receiving approximately $300,000 in FY 26 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) funds. The WVDA expects to award multiple grants from this funding." "The WVDA awarded more than $302,000 in SCBG funding in FY2025."

Awarded through a competitive application process administered by the WVDA Business Development Division. Contact vetstoag@wvda.us or 304-558-2210 (Business Development Division, ATTN: Veterans and Heroes to Agriculture, 217 Gus R Douglas Lane, Charleston, WV 25312). Past awards include WV Gold Star Mothers ($24,000) and Shepherd University/Patriot Guardens ($12,000).

Veterans and Heroes to Agriculture Program Coordinator

The Veterans and Heroes to Agriculture Grant Program, run by the West Virginia Department of Agriculture's Business Development Division, provides competitive grants of up to $24,000 to organizations across the state that work directly with, or provide support to, law enforcement, firefighters, emergency medical service, first responders, veterans, active-duty military, and/or their spouses and family within an agricultural capacity.



Organizations that serve or support the eligible service-member and first-responder populations in an agricultural capacity. Grants may not exceed $24,000. (Distinct from the program's $600-per-fiscal-year producer scholarship and the Veterans & Heroes Agribusiness Pitch Competition.)

"Grants may not exceed $24,000, and are awarded through an application process." No award floor, match requirement, cost-share percentage, or contract length is published.

Recent awards show the working range: WVDA announced "WV Gold Star Mothers Receive $24,000 in Veterans and Heroes to Agriculture Grant" and "Shepherd University and Patriot Guardens Receive $12,000 in Veterans and Heroes to Agriculture Grant Funding."

Separate from this organizational grant but published on the same WVDA page, individual producers can get a training reimbursement: "The West Virginia Department of Agriculture will reimburse up to $600 each fiscal year, ending June 30th, for any pre-approved agricultural-related classes, workshops, conferences, and certifications. You must fill out the Scholarship Application PRIOR to registering for the training event."

Fill out the Scholarship Application before registering for the training event. Completed applications can be emailed to vetstoag@wvda.us or mailed to: Business Development Division, ATTN: Veterans and Heroes to Agriculture, 217 Gus R Douglas Lane, Charleston, WV 25312. Reimbursement is up to $600 each fiscal year ending June 30. Questions about a class, workshop, conference, or certification can be directed to the Business Development Division at 304-558-2210 or vetstoag@wvda.us.

Nick Dayton

Veterans and Heroes to Agriculture Program Manager

As part of the West Virginia Department of Agriculture's Veterans and Heroes to Agriculture Program, the scholarship opportunity reimburses&#x2004;participants up to $600 each fiscal year (ending June 30) for any pre-approved agricultural-related classes, workshops, conferences, and certifications. The broader Veterans and Heroes to Agriculture Program integrates and supports veterans, firefighters, law enforcement, emergency services personnel, and first responders entering or currently working in agriculture, to benefit their health and welfare as well as the state's agricultural economy. Approved courses have included offerings such as Beef Production & Management, Beekeeping 101, Cattleman's College, Food for Profit, Orchard Management, Soil Health, and the WV Master Gardener Conference, among others (the list is not all-encompassing).



As part of the West Virginia Department of Agriculture's Veterans and Heroes to Agriculture Program, the scholarship opportunity reimburses participants up to $600 each fiscal year (ending June 30) for any pre-approved agricultural-related classes, workshops, conferences, and certifications. The broader Veterans and Heroes to Agriculture Program integrates and supports veterans, firefighters, law enforcement, emergency services personnel, and first responders entering or currently working in agriculture, to benefit their health and welfare as well as the state's agricultural economy. Approved courses have included offerings such as Beef Production & Management, Beekeeping 101, Cattleman's College, Food for Profit, Orchard Management, Soil Health, and the WV Master Gardener Conference, among others (the list is not all-encompassing).

Open to members of the Veterans and Heroes to Agriculture program - veterans, firefighters, law enforcement, emergency services personnel, and first responders entering or currently working in agriculture. The program application collects a baseline of information and is free to join. Classes, workshops, conferences, and certifications must be pre-approved, and the applicant must fill out the Scholarship Application PRIOR to registering for the training event.

A payment that requires some percentage of matching contributions by the recipient.

Cost Share

Stewardship

Historically Underserved

Labor

Marketing

Conservation

Research

Compliance

A flat annual reimbursement ceiling, no match and no contract term. The West Virginia Department of Agriculture "will reimburse up to $600 each fiscal year, ending June 30th, for any pre-approved agricultural-related classes, workshops, conferences, and certifications."

How the money works:
- Reimbursement, not an advance. The $600 is paid back to the participant after the fact, so the participant fronts the registration cost.
- Pre-approval is a hard condition. "You must fill out the Scholarship Application PRIOR to registering for the training event." A course registered for before approval is not reimbursable.
- The allowance resets annually on the July 1 fiscal year, so a participant can claim up to $600 again each year.
- No per-course sub-limit is published — the $600 is the annual total across all classes, workshops, conferences, and certifications.
- No match, fee, or cost-share percentage is published, and joining the underlying Veterans and Heroes to Agriculture program is free.

Note for anyone comparing figures: WVDA runs a separate, much larger organizational grant under the same program banner — "Grants may not exceed $24,000, and are awarded through an application process" — which is for organizations serving veterans and first responders, not for individual training reimbursement.

List of West Virginia Department of Agriculture Funding Opportunities