AFID Planning Grants

Matching grants of up to $20,000 (single-locality application) or $35,000 (multi-locality application) awarded through the AFID Fund in partnership with Virginia local governments to promote or support agriculture and forestry - developing strategic plans, feasibility studies, business or marketing plans or ordinances; generating policies or programs to preserve working lands; creating local plans supporting ag/forestry businesses; or funding entrepreneurship and business development. Requires a 1:1 match, with reduced match available for economically distressed localities.

Virginia local governments (single locality or multiple localities in partnership) working with the agriculture/forestry community. A 1:1 match is required, reduced for economically distressed localities.

Award size. "Single locality applicant – An individual applicant may apply for up to $20,000 per grant application." "Multi-locality applicant – Applications made on behalf of more than one locality may apply for up to $35,000 per grant." No minimum is published. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, and "Applicants cannot have more than one active planning grant at any time, excluding participation in multi-locality projects."

Match. "The AFID Planning Program generally requires that the applicant provide a dollar-for-dollar (1:1) match to the project. However, Economically Distressed Localities are eligible for a reduced 2:1 match." Composition of the match is constrained: "At least 50% of the applicant's match must be a cash match. These are funds that are newly committed to the project. A cash match cannot include previously invested funds or funding from other sources." The rest "may be in-kind or composed of Other Match funds" — defined as federal grant awards, private foundations, non-profit organizations, and Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission funds. Reduced match for multi-locality applicants "may be evaluated by the Secretary under special circumstances."

Capital costs. "Applications may include requests for capital expenditures of up to $10,000."

How you get paid. "An AFID Planning Grant Program award is a reimbursable grant" made to political subdivisions, so the locality spends first and is repaid. "Reimbursements may be requested periodically throughout the grant period; up to 75 percent of the grant funds may be allocated prior to the end of the grant period." The final reimbursement is released only "upon verification of the final grant documents," which include all receipts, invoices, and deliverables such as feasibility studies.

Term. "Grant awardees have two years from receipt of funds to complete their deliverables and may request an extension from the Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry for up to one additional year." Extension requests must be made at least 90 days before the grant period ends. An interim report is due one year in. "An application for a new grant will not be considered until the conditions of any previous grant are substantially completed."

Review the AFID Planning Grant Guidelines and submit the AFID Planning Grant Program Application and budget form; interested localities should contact the VDACS Office of Agriculture and Forestry Development.