WVSU Receives Historic U.S. Dept. of Agriculture Grant for New Agriculture Complex
West Virginia State University (WVSU) has been awarded a $26.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to construct a new agriculture complex on its campus. This funding is part of a larger $121 million investment by the USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) Research Facilities Program, which supports renovation, expansion, and construction projects across the nation.
WVSU was recognized as the second-highest funded university in the country among the 36 institutions receiving USDA funding. The complex will enhance WVSU’s capabilities in agricultural research, education, and assistance to producers statewide. It will support various critical areas including food safety, microbiology, sustainable agriculture practices, and value-added agricultural development, as stated by WVSU President Ericke Cage.
This project is a collaborative effort between WVSU and the West Virginia Department of Agriculture, with the state contributing $50 million in 2024 towards construction, which began that same year. Today's announcement brings the total funding for this significant initiative to $76.5 million.