Virginia Food Access Investment Fund Large-Scale Retailer Grant

The Virginia Food Access Investment Fund Large-Scale Retailer grant is administered by the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services in partnership with a Community Development Financial Institution. The program focuses on equity in local food systems by investing in new or expanding food retailers that address food access issues in underserved, resource-limited communities in Virginia. The program supports projects that improve retail access to fresh food in low-income and low-access communities. Its objectives include reducing food deserts, creating wealth and leadership in low-income and low-access communities, improving access to capital for vulnerable communities including Black, Indigenous, and People of Color communities, transforming businesses into sustainable community-informed enterprises, sharing successful food business models, reducing food insecurity, strengthening food systems, and improving health outcomes. For the Large-Scale Retailer track, eligible projects include business development activities, construction, rehabilitation, equipment upgrades, or expansion of grocery stores exceeding 15,000 square feet that primarily sell meat, seafood, fruits, vegetables, dairy products, dry groceries, household products, sundries, and healthy food options. Eligible uses may include pre-development costs such as market research or site development, and implementation costs such as equipment or construction. Vehicle purchases require additional documentation and agency agreements. The program will not fund stand-alone business entities without a food retail component or food retail partner, traditional food banks or food pantries, farm or production equipment or expenses, costs associated with production of prepared food, projects that do not currently or do not plan to accept SNAP EBT, purchase of land, personnel or staffing, or indirect costs. Projects must be located in Virginia, have a retail component where consumers can purchase fresh meats, seafood, dairy, produce, and/or healthy food options, directly serve low-income and low-access communities, demonstrate community engagement and support, accept SNAP benefits, offer Virginia Fresh Match or another nutrition incentive program, and demonstrate substantive procurement and partnerships with regional Virginia producers. Applicants may be individuals, nonprofit organizations including faith-based organizations, or for-profit businesses representing a large-scale food retailer. Applicants that were not active SNAP retailers at the time of application had to describe in specific detail the activities completed to date to become eligible SNAP retailers. Applicants also had to first submit the large-scale retailer pre-proposal and be invited to apply; entities that did not submit a pre-proposal were not permitted to submit an application regardless of project alignment. The application period was open from February 3, 2025 through February 28, 2025. Applications were required through the provided Microsoft Form by 11:59 pm Eastern Time on February 28, 2025. Successful applications were expected to show a clear vision and plan, including a timeline, comprehensive budget, deliverables, and a path to financial sustainability or profitability. Prioritization was given to projects using funds for food-retail expenses, purchasing fresh products from Virginia small, beginning, limited resource, Veteran, and/or socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers, employing community members, reflecting the community it serves, supporting new enterprises, creating community outcomes such as education and workforce development, leveraging additional funding, and demonstrating leadership or shared economic benefit with low-income and low-access communities. Grant award amounts for this Large-Scale Retailer program ranged from $100,000 to $250,000 per project. The source does not state a total program funding amount, number of awards, matching requirement, award notification date, or performance period. Questions could be directed to Keisha Williams, Grant Specialist, at Keisha.williams@vdacs.virginia.gov, or to Food@locusimpact.org. The public program page also lists Keisha Williams at 804.786.2776 and keisha.williams@vdacs.virginia.gov.

Prioritize food-retail related expenses; demonstrate direct service to low-income and low-access communities; show community engagement and community support; document SNAP acceptance and Virginia Fresh Match or similar nutrition incentives; demonstrate substantive procurement and partnerships with regional Virginia producers; strengthen the application by showing purchases from Virginia small, beginning, limited resource, Veteran, and/or socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers; show employment of community members, leveraged funding, shared leadership, and measurable community benefits such as education, workforce development, and youth development.