West Virginia State University Receives $26.5 Million for New Agricultural Complex
West Virginia State University has received a $26.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the largest competitive award in the university’s history, to fund its new agricultural complex.
“The USDA grant is a game-changer for agriculture in West Virginia,” said WVSU President Ericke S. Cage. “... demonstrating that the University punches well above its weight...”
The funding is part of the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) Research Families Act Program, which supports renovation, expansion, and construction projects strengthening research capacity in agriculture.
WVSU’s award amount ranks second nationally among 36 universities receiving funding.
The grant will help construct the West Virginia State University Agriculture Complex, housing:
- Dedicated food science laboratories for safety, microbiology, and shelf-life studies
- A commercial kitchen and sensory evaluation facility
- Flexible agriculture and natural resource laboratories
- Agricultural AI computing and applied teaching space
- WVDA’s accredited laboratories for campus testing and emergency response
Construction is expected to begin in early 2027.