The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is seeking applications for its Blue Catfish Processing, Flash Freezing, and Infrastructure Grant Program to encourage efforts by political subdivisions to support the processing, flash freezing, and infrastructure of invasive blue catfish species.
Donor Name: Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS)
State: Virginia
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 11/20/2023
Size of the Grant: $100,000 to $500,000
Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned
Details:
Any funds awarded by the Governor shall be awarded as reimbursable grants of no more than $250,000 per grant to political subdivisions to support blue catfish processing, flash freezing, and infrastructure projects.
Priority Project Types
Consideration will be given to the following project types:
- Projects that create processing, flash freezing, and infrastructure capacity in proximity to small-scale blue catfish watermen.
- Processing facilities that are primarily locally owned, including packaging, freezing, and labeling facilities that are used for processing blue catfish.
- Projects that involve or incorporate existing seafood processors and businesses.
- Projects located in the localities of the Rural Coastal Virginia Community Enhancement Authority or in Planning District 23.
- Projects providing a local match, if any.
Eligibility Criteria
- Applications must be made by a political subdivision of the Commonwealth, typically counties or cities but also towns, industrial and economic development authorities, or planning district commissions.
- Applications may be made on behalf of more than one locality, provided that a single political subdivision serves as the lead applicant and grant administrator.
- Applicants are only eligible for one grant award per grant round. Applicants must be in good standing regarding any other awards from the Fund.
Project Evaluation and Award Criteria
Awards will be made on a competitive basis based on the strength of a candidate’s application. Applicants must follow the AFID Infrastructure Program Application format. Stronger applications will clearly explain:
- the project purpose,
- the specific issue(s) that the project will address,
- the local or regional benefits of the project,
- the specific goals or objectives of the project,
- the particular deliverables of the project,
- Projects located in the localities of the Rural Coastal Virginia Community Enhancement Authority (§ 15.2-7600) or in Planning District 23,
- how grant funds and local match will be used, if applicable.
For more information, visit VDACS.