Mini-Grant Program

The West Virginia Farmers Market Association administers the WVFMA $5,000 Mini-Grant Program for eligible farmers markets in West Virginia. The program is funded by the West Virginia Department of Agriculture and is intended to help markets acquire tangible items that improve market operations, increase visibility, or improve service to vendors and customers. Eligible markets may request up to $5,000 per project. Markets that have previously received a WVFMA mini-grant may apply again, while applicants that have never previously received a WVFMA mini-grant receive a two-point scoring bonus. Grant funding supports tangible items that the market will own and use, and applicants may combine eligible infrastructure and marketing items within a single request. Examples include coolers, refrigerators, CoolBot trailers, display cases, tents, shade structures, pavilions, storage, durable tables and chairs, market fixtures, Wi-Fi hotspots, point-of-sale devices, tablets and laptops used for market management, handheld or infrared customer counters, branded and directional signs, wayfinding materials, flyers, brochures, and banners. The examples are not exhaustive, and applicants may propose other tangible items addressing their market's specific needs. Funds may not pay salaries, indirect costs or general overhead, or purchases outside the approved project budget without prior WVFMA approval. Applicants considering a cost that is primarily a service, fee, or subscription are instructed to contact WVFMA before including it. Applicants must be farmers markets registered with the West Virginia Department of Agriculture and must be current members of the West Virginia Farmers Market Association. Each market may submit no more than one application. Eligible market types include traditional farmers markets, roadside stands, consignment markets, on-farm stands, mobile markets, and online markets. Previous WVFMA mini-grant recipients remain eligible. The source does not state a separate cost-share or matching requirement. Applicants should be prepared to provide market contact and mailing information and information about their market schedule, vendors, customers, sales, and nutrition-benefit programs. The application also calls for a clear explanation of the market's need, a list of the specific items that will be purchased or built, current price estimates, project start and end dates, an implementation timeline, a plan for measuring results, and information about other funding received for market projects during the year. Applicants must also complete the WVFMA Excel budget file available through the online application, rename the completed file to include the market's name, and upload it with the application. WVFMA advises applicants to provide direct and specific answers, clearly identify the problem being addressed and beneficiaries, explain how proposed items will be used, identify expected results and measurement methods, and ensure that narrative responses agree with the budget. Applications are reviewed using a 100-point scoring system. Project overview is worth 25 points, goals and expected outcomes 20 points, budget breakdown 15 points, implementation timeline 10 points, impact assessment 15 points, market eligibility 5 points, and public benefit 10 points. Applicants that have never previously received a WVFMA mini-grant receive an additional two-point bonus. Awards may be less than the requested amount based on project merit and available funding, but no individual award will exceed $5,000. The application period opens Friday, August 7, 2026, and applications are due Friday, September 18, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. EST. Applications are submitted through the linked Mini Grant Application, and an Applicant Guide and RFA is provided as an official PDF. Selected markets must provide a completed W-9 before payment, confirm the mailing address for the award check, spend funds only according to the approved project budget, obtain WVFMA approval before changing that budget, maintain receipts and project records, submit required quarterly progress reports and receipts plus a final project survey, and complete WVFMA Market Metrics as required. No award-notification date or specific project performance period is stated in the supplied material. Questions concerning eligibility, allowable expenses, the budget, or the application may be sent to executivedirector@wvfarmers.org. Prior 2024 and 2025 WVFMA Mini-Grant programs are identified in the source, supporting treatment of the opportunity as a recurring annual program, with the next cycle anticipated around August 2027.

Provide direct and specific answers rather than special grant-writing language; clearly explain the problem the project will address and who will benefit; state exactly how proposed items will be used; identify expected results and how those results will be tracked; ensure written answers agree with the budget; include all relevant information because reviewers can score only what is included in the application.