Virginia Organic Certification Cost Share Program (OCCSP)

Reimburses eligible Virginia organic growers and processors for 75% of their organic certification costs, up to $750 per certification scope/category. Funded through the USDA National Organic Certification Cost Share Program (OCCSP) and administered by VDACS; reimbursements are paid on a first-come, first-served basis until funds are depleted.

Virginia organic growers and processors who successfully completed or renewed organic certification from a USDA-accredited certifying agent during the program's qualifying period.

Reimbursement after certification, not an upfront grant. The VDACS Organic Certification Cost Share Application states: "Each Applicant will receive 75% of Certification Costs up to $750 per Scope." The most recent published VDACS round document says the OCCSP funds "will provide reimbursement to eligible organic growers and processors for 75 percent of their 2023-2024 organic certification costs up to a maximum of $750 per category of certification," for certification completed or renewed between October 1, 2023 and September 30, 2024, with "all paperwork" due to VDACS "no later than November 30, 2024."

Because the $750 ceiling applies per certification scope/category rather than per applicant, a producer certified in more than one scope can be reimbursed more than $750 in total. The producer covers the remaining 25 percent of certification costs; no separate match, fee, or contract term is published.

Funding is not first-in-line guaranteed: "Funds will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis until they have been depleted." Reimbursement requires itemized certifier receipts showing the total cost of services and the date of payment within the program time frame.

Submit the signed VDACS OCCSP application, a Commonwealth of Virginia (COV) W-9 with original signature, a current copy of the organic certificate, and itemized certifier receipts to VDACS Division of Marketing and Development, Attn: Garrett Petro, 102 Governor Street, Richmond, VA 23219.