ST. THOMAS — The Virgin Islands Local Food and Farm Council announced $500,000 in available grants for farmers and fishers during the first of three territory-wide town hall meetings held virtually and in person Monday evening at the University of the Virgin Islands on St. Thomas.
Farmers and fishers, who have until May 31 to apply for funding, could receive up to $100,000 to expand their operations as the government takes steps to grow the local agriculture industry as part of the Virgin Islands Agricultural Plan.
The goal of the Ag Plan, developed by the Agricultural Plan Task Force as directed by eight mandates outlined in Act No. 8404, is to increase agricultural productivity locally to make food security and sovereignty a reality for Virgin Islands residents.
“Because productivity is the main thing behind the entire Agriculture Plan, we want to, in fact, move away; we will move away from importing 93% of the food that is consumed in the Virgin Islands to some much lower number,” UVI President David Hall, who co-chairs the VI Local Food and Farm Council along with Agriculture Commissioner Louis Petersen Jr., said during the town hall.
In addition to its mission to strengthen, rejuvenate, and fortify the local food system, the Local Food and Farm Council is tasked with monitoring the Ag Plan, annually assessing its effectiveness, and delivering a report to the Legislature and governor.
Following the passage of Act No. 8404 on December 11, 2020, work began to develop the Ag Plan. Although the initial goal was to increase agriculture productivity in the territory, Hall said the Agricultural Plan Task Force indicated in its report to the government that the fishing community needed to be addressed.
A survey of commercial and recreational fishers revealed a desire to have better assistance with grants and more sustainable fisheries in addition to educating youth about the industry to grow the next generation of fishers, Hall said.
“It was clear that some of the needs that was identified by the fishing community was very similar to the types of needs that were identified by individuals in the farming community,” Hall said, adding that the survey helped the task force realize that the projects and programs funded through the Ag Plan needed to be available to both farmers and fishers.
Hall said the task force was asked to think about business models, as well as how the government could help spur growth in farming and fishing businesses. He said the task force suggested a public-private partnership to get the government to provide investments into the agriculture industry to help it grow.
“We’re trying to use government funding to help expand farming and fishing in the Virgin Islands,” he said.
Although the task force requested $3 million to be disbursed in grant funding to fishers and farmers, Hall said $500,000 was identified for the grant program. He said, however, that he believes more funding could be requested if the initial $500,000 is used effectively.
The $500,000 in grant funding is available through the Economic Development Authority as part of an initial $2.23 million in funds identified to implement the Ag Plan. The funding includes $500,000 to the Department of Education to develop an agriculture curriculum in the public school system, and $350,000 to the Department of Agriculture to hire key personnel. The funding includes $250,000 to UVI to engage in securing federal grants, and $250,000 to UVI to create the Local Food and Farm Council and create a food symbol that farmers and fishers will display on their products. UVI received another $120,000 to identify grant writers for the Local Food and Farm Council, as well as $13,000 to establish a Local Food and Farm Fund for farmers. UVI also received $250,000 to establish Virgin Islands Agriculture Business Centers within the Small Business Development Center offices on St. Croix, St. Thomas, and St. John.
The Agriculture Business Centers support farmers and fishers with free training and technical assistance, including help filling out the grant application forms. Walk-ins are welcome, but appointments are recommended to ensure someone will be available to help.
The AgBC on St. Croix is in the SBDC at 6300 Estate Peter’s Rest, Suite 4. The phone number is 340-725-2701. The AgBC on St. Thomas is in the UVI 13D Research and Strategy Innovation Center on the second floor. The phone number is 340-725-2679. Appointments can be made with the SBDC on St. John in Mongoose Junction by calling 340-693-1694. Email messages can also be sent via the AgBC website at myviabc.org. SBDC locations are open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday.
Farmers and fishers can apply for grant funding online at vilocalfoodandfarmcouncil.org, or myviabc.org. The local food symbol, which is located at the top left of the website, can be clicked on to return to the homepage.
The Virgin Islands Local Food and Farm Council’s second tri-island town hall is set from 6 to 8 p.m. today at the Legislature of the Virgin Islands on St. John. The final town hall will be from 6 to 8 p.m. May 1 in the UVI Great Hall on St. Croix. The case-sensitive Zoom link to participate virtually in the town halls is bit.ly/LETSGROWVI. Preregistration for in-person attendance is requested by calling 340-693-1003, or by sending an email to vilocalfoodandfarmcouncil@doa.vi.gov.
