West Virginia LFPA Plus Executive Summary

The West Virginia Department of Agriculture (WVDA), through the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program and LFPA Plus, will subgrant funds to Facing Hunger Food Bank and Mountaineer Food Bank. The food banks will expand current food procurement from socially disadvantaged producers and food distribution with the addition of LFPA Plus funds. Additional socially disadvantaged producers will be identified, increasing the purchasing ability for local foods. LFPA Plus funds will be predominately utilized for food procurement. Amendments will be made to the initial LFPA budget to cover administrative costs in the additional year. The addition of LFPA Plus will increase economic opportunity to West Virginia producers, while simultaneously strengthening the local food ecosystem. Increased funding will allow increased purchasing ability, allowing more small producers the opportunity to be competitive in the market. The influx of additional purchased foods will expand distribution opportunities by creating the capacity for food banks to do so. This funding will allow additional opportunities for the food banks to establish and foster relationships with local producers. Establishing these relationships will allow the continuation of partnerships past the end of this grant.