Here’s a roundup of news briefs from around Southwest and Southside. Send yours for possible inclusion to news@cardinalnews.org.
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State offers funds for farm conservation programs
Virginia farmers can apply for state funds to help them implement conservation practices that protect water quality, improve soil health and support agriculture’s long-term sustainability.
The Virginia Agricultural Best Management Practices Cost-Share program has been allocated $223 million for this fiscal year, an increase of $16 million over last year, according to a news release from the Department of Conservation and Recreation, which administers the program in partnership with local soil and water conservation districts.
Farmers can receive up to $300,000 in state cost-share reimbursement for best management practices, including cover cropping, nutrient management, livestock stream exclusion and rotational grazing.
Farmers should contact their local soil and water conservation district to apply. A map of districts and contact information is at https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/soil-and-water/swcds.
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Food and agriculture projects receive state grants
A dozen food and agricultural projects, including several in Southwest and Southside, have received infrastructure grants through the Governor’s Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development fund, Gov. Glenn Younkin’s office announced Thursday.
The AFID infrastructure program, which is administered by the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, awards grants primarily for capital projects at food hubs, farmers markets, commercial kitchens and food processing and packaging facilities.
These 12 projects received grants, according to the governor’s office:
- Town of Pulaski, $50,000: Funding will help create a new Main Street home for The Marketplace, Pulaski’s long-standing farmers market.
- City of Roanoke, $50,000: Grant funds will support the fabrication and installation of new awnings on the Historic Roanoke City Market, which will increase availability for additional vendors to fill all 42 market stalls.
- Town of Tazewell, $28,244: Funding will aid in the construction of a new farmers market pavilion on the Clinch River in North Tazewell that will become the permanent location of the Tazewell Farmers Market Association.
- Fluvanna County, $7,374: Grant funding will support the purchase of commercial equipment and electrical upgrades to expand the functionality of the Fluvanna County Commercial Kitchen.
- Town of Crewe, $50,000: The grant will support the renovation of a 6,000-square-foot commercial facility in downtown Crewe into a community-centered food hub.
- Spotsylvania County, $50,000: The county will use this grant funding to subsidize the construction of an abattoir and related facilities, which will also provide an outlet for local producers of sheep, goats, cattle and poultry to market their products.
- Town of New Market, $45,100: Grant funding will aid in renovating a vacant kitchen into a shared-use, certified, commercial-grade commissary kitchen.
- Pulaski County, $19,540: Mountain View Farm will use the funding to expand its on-farm meat processing capabilities, which will allow the farm to offer customized and value-added meat products.
- City of Charlottesville, $50,000: Grant funding will aid in the purchase of the initial packaging and distribution products needed for the new phase of the Beacon Kitchen, a shared-use commercial kitchen.
- City of Winchester, $47,900: The Winchester Economic Development Authority will use the funding to construct a new commissary kitchen to support local food entrepreneurs who lack access to commercial kitchen space.
- Shenandoah County, $50,000: Funding will support the renovation of an existing space into a new commercial kitchen in the town of New Market.
- Cumberland County, $49,546: The funding will help the county purchase refrigerated cases for the new Cumberland County Grocery Store, which will feature locally grown produce, meats, seafood and dry goods, as well as in-house prepared food.
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National Park Service still looking for concessionaire at Mabry Mill, revises details
The National Park Service is accepting proposals to provide food and beverage and retail services at Mabry Mill on on the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Services under the new contract are expected to begin Jan. 1 and will be for a 10-year term.
The concessions solicitation was first advertised in the summer of 2024 but no bids were received, according to a news release from the Park Service. The NPS has revised some of the financial aspects of the prospectus, is available on the NPS website.
A site visit is planned for July 16; anyone who would like to attend must register by emailing BLRI_Concessions@nps.gov no later than one week before the scheduled date.
To submit a proposal, notify intent to William Gordon, commercial services specialist, at William_Gordon@nps.gov no later than Sept. 3. Proposals are due Oct. 1.