VDACS Accepting Blue Catfish Processing, Flash Freezing, and Infrastructure Grants Applications Through October 30

What this means

A factual summary is pending editorial review. The complete official release is reproduced below with issuer attribution and a direct link to the original publication.

Official release

Source material from Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. The wording below is the issuer’s statement.

News Release

September 15, 2026

VDACS Accepting Blue Catfish Processing, Flash Freezing, and Infrastructure Grants Applications Through

October 30

Grants support infrastructure development projects that expand commercial fishing and processing

of invasive Blue Catfish

Richmond, Va. – The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is

currently accepting grant funding applications for projects that will help expand the commercial fishing

and processing of blue catfish in the Commonwealth. Applications for the Governor's Blue Catfish

Processing, Flash Freezing, and Infrastructure Grant Program will be accepted today through 5 p.m. on Oct.

30, 2026.

The Blue Catfish Processing, Flash Freezing, and Infrastructure Grant Program awards reimbursable grants

of up to $250,000 to support infrastructure development projects that directly support local food

production, enhance environmental sustainability, and demonstrate a broad community benefit. Grant funds

should be used primarily for capital expenditures. Grant priority 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.

Introduced several decades ago as a recreational trophy fish, blue catfish is an invasive species and

aggressive predator that has thriving populations in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. Blue Catfish pose a

significant threat to the ecosystem of the Chesapeake Bay as it eats native species including shad,

herring, striped bass, menhaden, clams and blue crabs.

Additional information and the application for this grant opportunity are available on the Blue Catfish Processing, Flash

Freezing, and Infrastructure Grant Program webpage.

Completed grant funding applications should be emailed prior to the due date to Rachel Meyers, Office of

Agriculture and Forestry Development, at rachel.meyers@vdacs.virginia.gov or postmarked by

Oct. 30 and sent by postal mail to VDACS Office of Agriculture and Forestry Development, 102 Governor

Street, Richmond, Va., 23219.

Release text attributed to Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Consult the official publication for any subsequent corrections or updates.