CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The West Virginia Department of Agriculture (WVDA) is pleased to announce the FY2023 competitive Request for Applications (RFA) for the Veterans and Heroes to Agriculture Grant Program (VHAGP). Grant recipients have one year to plan, implement, and gather data on their respective projects. Each project can request up to $24,000. Applications are due May 17, 2023.

“Our active duty and retired veterans, as well as emergency response personnel already have a proven work ethic. They are the perfect group to help grow West Virginia’s food economy,” stressed Commissioner of Agriculture Kent Leonhardt. “We need to provide support to those organizations who seek to help our Veterans and Heroes to Agriculture members.”

The purpose of the VHAGP is to provide funding to organizations around the state who work directly with or provide support to law enforcement, fire fighters, emergency medical service, first responders, veterans, active-duty military, and/or their spouses and family within an agricultural capacity. The grant program provides an opportunity for organizations to develop and enhance programs and activities targeted at our veterans and heroes. The program also seeks to further promote the development of agricultural industries, products, and marketing opportunities across the state.

Project funding priorities include providing support to the Veterans and Heroes Program beneficiaries, supporting the agriculture economy, and demonstrating quantifiable impact in terms of the integration and support of the veterans and heroes entering or currently working in agriculture to benefit their health and welfare.

Applications can be found at https://agriculture.wv.gov/ag-business/veterans-and-heroes-to-agriculture/.

For more information, contact Sierra Cox at kcox@wvda.us or 304-558-2210.

The West Virginia Department of Agriculture protects plant, animal and human health through a variety of scientific, regulatory and consumer protection programs. The Commissioner of Agriculture is one of six statewide elected officials who sits on the Board of Public Works.