Beehive Distribution Grant Program

Beehive Distribution Grant Program

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS)
Amount: Unspecified amount in in-kind support
Last Updated: July 26, 2025

Summary

The Beehive Distribution Grant Program, managed by the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, aims to promote new beehive establishment in Virginia. This program directly supplies beekeepers with essential equipment instead of reimbursing expenses. Eligible individuals aged 18 and older can apply for up to three beehive units annually. Random selections occur from qualifying applications, ensuring fairness. Note that entities like businesses and government agencies are ineligible, and past applicants cannot reapply until all prior applications are processed.

Overview

Background The Beehive Grant Fund (Fund) was created to promote the establishment of new beehives in the Commonwealth. The 2018 Session of the General Assembly replaced the Beehive Grant Program with the Beehive Distribution Program (Chapter 192 of Acts of Assembly). The Beehive Grant Program reimbursed beekeepers for expenses related to the purchase of beehive equipment whereas the Beehive Distribution Program (Program) provides beehive equipment directly to beekeepers. Recipients of beehive units will be selected at random from qualifying applications. Individuals need to provide a valid email address with their application since notifications regarding the status of an application will be sent by email. Applications submitted in a prior year, will not be carried forward to this year's Program. Individuals must submit an application during the application period to be considered for the random selection.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Only individuals are eligible to receive beehive units. Residents of the Commonwealth of Virginia who are 18 years of age or older at the time an application is submitted are eligible to receive up to three (3) beehive units per year.Multiple individuals with the same mailing and/or physical address (household) may apply to the Program. Distribution of beehive units will be limited to no more than three (3) basic beehive units per household in the same fiscal year (July 1 - June 30).Individuals who receive beehive units through the Program will be registered as a beekeeper with the Department.Individuals who are awarded units may be required to complete a Commonwealth of Virginia Substitute W-9 form, prior to receiving the beehive units. No more than three (3) beehive units may be distributed per household.Please review other Beehive Unit Requirements here.

Ineligibility

Entities such as businesses, non-profit organizations, government agencies, etc. are not eligible to receive beehive units through the Program.Individuals are not eligible to receive beehive units in consecutive years until all applications from individuals that did not receive units in the previous year are processed.