Virginia Invests in Local Meat Processing: Fauquier County Receives Grant for New Facility

Fauquier County, Virginia, is poised to strengthen its local meat industry with a new grant aimed at developing a meat-processing facility in Marshall.

The $9,800 planning grant, awarded by the Governor’s Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development (AFID) Fund, will support the establishment of an operational framework and strategic plans for the new facility.

“It’s so important for our Virginia livestock producers to have a strong local pipeline for processing their animals and providing consumers with high-quality local meat,” noted Joe Guthrie, Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture.

The grant reflects the state’s commitment to expanding local meat processing—a step that could boost the supply chain for Virginia’s meat producers and benefit local consumers alike.

This grant follows prior support from the AFID Planning Grant Program, which has allocated over $1.1 million to 55 projects across 66 localities since 2013.

To qualify, projects must showcase a strong local government backing, clear objectives, and matched funding. This new facility is expected to help streamline the processing and delivery of meat in the region, meeting both a rising demand and a local need for sustainable supply.

With funding in place, Fauquier County’s Department of Agricultural Development and the Fauquier Livestock Exchange Board of Directors are now working on structuring the management team and operational goals, bringing the project closer to reality.

By enhancing the processing capacity locally, the initiative aims to support Virginia’s livestock industry and give consumers better access to fresh, locally sourced meat.

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