Virginia is the first state in the nation to launch the Farm Recovery Block Grant Program funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced Thursday.
Forestland owners and farmers can begin applying for financial assistance to recover from the effects of Hurricane Helene on Monday, Sept. 22.
The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is hosting a virtual public training session on Wednesday, Sept. 24 at 5:30 p.m. to explain how to access the grants.
“Virginia is proud to lead the nation in delivering recovery aid to farmers and forestland owners still recovering from Hurricane Helene,” Youngkin said. “The opening of this program reflects the power of state and federal collaboration, providing meaningful support to communities that provide so much to our Commonwealth and our nation. I want to thank Secretary Rollins and her team for their partnership in delivering for Virginia’s farmers and forestland owners.”
Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Matthew Lohr said agriculture and forestry is vitally important to Virginia’s economy and the backbone of commerce in the Southwest and Southside regions of the state.
“This grant funding provides critical, direct support to farmers and forestland owners in those areas and helps them restore their operations to be productive contributors to their communities and our state,” Lohr said. “I would like to thank everyone at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Virginia Department of Forestry, and Virginia Cooperative Extension for working together to roll out this new funding opportunity.”
The program will provide $60.9 million in disaster assistance through direct payments to eligible applicants across 27 localities.
That includes Bedford, Bland, Buchanan, Carroll, Craig, Dickenson, Floyd, Giles, Grayson, Lee, Montgomery, Patrick, Pittsylvania, Pulaski, Russell, Scott, Smyth, Tazewell, Washington, Wise, and Wythe counties, and the cities of Bristol, Covington, Danville, Galax, Norton, and Radford.
The funding is intended to assist farmers and forestland owners who experienced losses not covered by federal disaster assistance programs. That can include damage to farm infrastructure such as farm buildings, bridges, and roads used for crop or livestock production.
