Find a Funding Source

The Know Your Farmer Know Your Food Compass is a digital guide to USDA resources that support of regional food production. This new 2.0 version contains new case studies of successful regional food projects.  The interactive map now includes data on food hubs, farmers markets, meat processing facilities and more, as well as data on USDA-supported projects in all fifty states.  Search the map for West Virginia projects to find out how local groups are putting USDA funds to work.

For example, Buckhannon used a Rural Business Economic Development Grant  of $200,000 to expand shelters in their farmers market to provide sun and rain cover to vendors and shoppers and to improve sidewalks, landscaping and storm sewer drainage.

Over $54,000 was won by the Jefferson Area Board for the Aging for a feasibility study for a bulk freezing / frozen meals operation using Virginia-grown food to provide meals and products for non-profit organizations such as senior nutrition programs, home delivered meals, schools and child daycare.

A Specialty Block Grant of over $18,000 was awarded to Fay-Penn Economic Development Council in Fayette County to  improve access to locally grown fruits and vegetables for distribution to local restaurants by local farmers markets and local farms.

The Bloomery Plantation Distillery in Charles Town has won $49,000 to produce and market hand-crafted, artisan fruit cordials using farm grown produce.

These are just a few of the large grants that have been won. Writing a grant takes time and can be a bit stressful, but the chance for funding is worth the effort!

Grants and Loans can be found on the website. There are also disaster relief programs and emergency farm loans.