INSTITUTE, W.Va. — West Virginia State University has received a $26.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the largest competitive grant award in the University’s history and a key victory toward expanding agriculture at WVSU.
The grant will help construct the West Virginia State University Agriculture Complex, a cutting-edge facility that will house laboratory space for WVSU’s Purdy School of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources as well as the West Virginia Department of Agriculture. The USDA award builds upon a previously announced, $50 million investment from the State of West Virginia.
WVSU President Ericke S. Cage said the historic award illustrates the University’s ability to leverage West Virginia’s investment to attract federal dollars as a step toward future expansion for West Virginia families and farmers.
“The USDA grant is a game-changer for agriculture in West Virginia,” Cage said. “It speaks to the tremendous strength of West Virginia State University and its people, demonstrating that the University punches well above its weight and that when you invest in our campus, WVSU delivers.”
The funding is part of the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture’s (NIFA) Research Facilities Act Program. Nationwide, the $121 million investment supports renovation, expansion and construction projects that strengthen research capacity and ensure America’s agricultural research enterprise remains equipped to meet the challenges facing America’s farmers, ranchers and producers.
WVSU’s award amount ranks second nationally among 36 universities that received funding in what has been described as a highly competitive program. The state’s $50 million investment in Spring 2024 provided the University matching funds to secure additional funding.
Considerable progress has been made in project design, strengthening the University’s application as a shovel-ready project. Construction is expected to begin in early 2027 with occupancy scheduled for Fall 2029.
At approximately 40,000 gross square feet, the current Agriculture Complex will establish dedicated food science laboratories to run concurrent food safety, microbiology and shelf-life studies; create a commercial kitchen and sensory evaluation facility for value-added development and producer assistance; provide flexible agriculture and natural resources laboratories, agricultural AI computing and applied teaching space for WVSU’s new Purdy School of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources; and bring WVDA’s accredited laboratories to campus, strengthening the state’s capacity for food safety testing and emergency response.
Project design is being led by Perkins&Will with PJ Dick and Pray Construction serving in a joint venture as construction manager.
“For 164 years, USDA has partnered with America’s great Land-grant and agricultural universities to produce the discoveries, service and education needed to keep the nation fed and to fuel U.S. agricultural progress around the world,” NIFA Director Dr. Jaye L. Hamby said in announcing the program in June. “This investment reaffirms our commitment to that valued partnership and to the next generation of agriculturists. We are excited to see the tremendous impact this program will have to accelerate research from the lab to the marketplace and the fields to improve profitability for our farmers, ranchers, and producers and secure our nation’s food supply.”
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