2025 Mini-Grants

May 19, 2025

WVFMA’s 2025 Mini-Grant Program supports tangible items in two categories—Infrastructure and Marketing—to help markets statewide grow and serve their communities.

Infrastructure

Equipment: coolers, refrigerators, CoolBot trailers, display cases
Structures: shade structures/tents, pavilions, storage or other permanent improvements
Fixtures: durable tables, chairs, and other long-lasting furnishings
Operations tech: Wi-Fi hotspots, point-of-sale devices, tablets/laptops for market management
Visitor tracking: handheld or infrared counters
Marketing
Branded signage and wayfinding
Printed promotions: flyers, brochures, banners

Program Details

Eligible applicants: farmers’ markets, roadside stands, mobile markets, on-farm stands, and online and consignment markets in West Virginia
What we fund: tangible items that strengthen operations and visibility; you may bundle items across both categories
Innovation welcome: propose needs beyond the examples
Maximum award: up to $5,000 per project

Eligibility Requirements

To be considered for funding, your market must:

Applicants must be West Virginia Department of Agriculture registered farmers markets and current members of the West Virginia Farmers Market Association (to become a member go to https://wvfarmers.org/become-a-member/.)

Be able to submit a valid W-9 (To process payments and mini-grant awards, WVFMA requires a completed IRS Form W-9. This form gives us your legal name, address, and tax ID so we can meet federal reporting rules. It’s not a bill and doesn’t create a tax due. If we pay you $600+ in a year, you’ll receive a 1099 next January. )

Grants are awarded based on a competitive review of need, impact, and feasibility. *All business types welcome to apply. The types of entities that qualify as farmers markets for the WVFMA Mini-Grant program include traditional, roadside, consignment, on-farm, and mobile markets, online.

Markets that have previously received funding through the WVFMA Mini-Grant Program are eligible to apply again for additional grants. However, to encourage new participants, markets that have not been previously funded will receive a two-point bonus in the application scoring process.

Markets, where WVFMA board members serve as employees, board members, or vendors, are eligible to apply. However, for-profit businesses owned by WVFMA board members are not eligible for this grant.

If you are unsure about your membership or registration status, contact us and we will be happy to confirm for you.

Funding Information:
– Total available funding for the WVFMA Mini-Grant Program is determined annually by the West Virginia Department of Agriculture.

– Individual grant awards may vary and will be determined based on the merit of the proposed projects and the availability of funds.

– Maximum Grant Amount for 2025 is $5,000.

Use of Funds:

– Funding provided through the WVFMA Mini-Grant Program is intended to support specific projects, initiatives, or purchases that directly benefit farmers markets and their stakeholders.

– Funds should not be used for salaries or indirect costs.

-Funds used not in accordance to the budget submitted for the project without prior approval may result in funds being returned the West Virginia Farmers Market Association.

Application Process:

Download Template: Access the Budget Template .
Click the link to download the Excel document to your computer.
Rename the file to include your market’s name—for example, “WV Farmers Market Budget.”
Complete the template with your project costs.
Complete your application on the Application Form
Upload the finished budget file in the application.

Review and Selection Process:

All applications received by the deadline will be reviewed by a selection committee appointed by the WVFMA. This committee will include qualified members of the agriculture community.
Applications will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
– Project Overview: 25 points maximum
– Project Goals and Expected Outcomes: 20 points maximum
– Budget Breakdown: 15 points maximum
– Implementation Timeline: 10 points maximum
– Impact Assessment: 15 points maximum
– Market Eligibility: 5 points maximum
– Public Benefit: 10 points maximum

Markets that have not been previously funded will receive a two-point bonus in the scoring process, encouraging new participants and promoting a wider distribution of grant resources.

Notification and Disbursement:

Applicants will be notified of grant decisions via email by October 17, 2025.
Successful grant recipients must provide a W-9 form to facilitate the disbursement of grant funds.
Grant funds will be disbursed on or around November 1, 2025. Checks may take up to fourteen days to arrive.

Key Dates:

Application Due Date: September 17, 2025, 11:00 p.m. EST

Application Opens: August 8, 2025

Award Notification: October 17, 2025

Reporting Requirements:

Grant recipients must submit quarterly progress reports, receipts, and a final project survey at the end of the grant period. Reporting templates will be provided to successful applicants. Recipients are required to complete the WVFMA Market Metrics.

Acknowledgment:

The WVFMA Mini-Grant Program is funded by the West Virginia Department of Agriculture. We acknowledge their support in making this initiative possible.

Why These Questions Matter

The grant application includes a few short questions about your market’s weekly customer count, vendor count, and participation in programs like SNAP, WIC, and Senior Vouchers. These questions align with our Market Metrics initiative.

Keeping basic weekly records makes your market more competitive—not just for this grant, but for future funding, partnerships, and state-level programs. If you are not tracking yet, we can help you start.