The Virginia Horse Industry Board (VHIB), which works to promote and help develop the equine industry in the Commonwealth of Virginia, is now looking for pre-proposals for its 2026 grant cycle.

Eligible projects must meet industry needs in alignment with the VHIB mission. In 2026, VHIB anticipates making up to 60 awards in one funding cycle, from a pool of up to $500,000.

There are changes this year to the scope of the eligible projects, the monies available and more.

Interested parties may apply by December 10 with pre-proposals via Google Form. Parties whose pre-proposals are selected will be invited in December to complete full proposals by February 9, 2026.

What’s new this year 

This year marks a transition in how VHIB awards its grants. Prior years’ grant programs offered marketing grants under $5,000. In 2026, VHIB is issuing a broad and inclusive call intended to meet industry needs in keeping with its mission of promotion and economic development of the equine industry in the Commonwealth.

After this transition year, VHIB anticipates soliciting proposals from industry that may include a narrowed focus on specific strategic priorities. 

Specific changes

Specific changes in 2026 include: 

• Conducting only one grant cycle instead of the previous quarterly process
• Sponsorships de-emphasized to increase transparency and accountability. Prior sponsorship recipients are encouraged to participate in the grant program. 
• A new pre-proposal stage consisting of a simple concept description and a top-line budget makes it easy to participate. Pre-proposal applicants invited to submit full proposals will receive additional instructions. 
• No cap on each grant’s budget (previously $5,000). 
• Expanded budget categories compared to prior years permit additional expenses in line with standard grant categories and offer more flexibility within categories during implementation. Applicants should carefully follow the grant budget instructions, as some costs remain un-reimbursable and guardrails still apply. 
• A broader scope compared to the previous marketing focus now includes projects within the full range of VHIB’s mission of the promotion and economic development of the equine industry in the Commonwealth. Applicants should carefully review the “Topics” section in the announcement for more detail on VHIB interests. 
• Enhanced outreach to solicit a broad range of applicants and project ideas, includes two webinars on October 22 at 5:30pm [recording available] and November 19 at 12:30 pm to inform applicants and answer their questions
• Simplified evaluation criteria to increase transparency and consistency
• In 2026, a slightly shorter period of performance (POP) of about 10 months to transition future grant cycles to align with the calendar year (January–December)
• Redoubled emphasis on reporting, using a streamlined approach
• Introduction of a contractor to manage the grant cycle, enhance communication and administer the awards

To download the full pre-proposal notice, which includes a link to the Google Form needed for submission, go to the eVA Marketplace and search under “Virginia Business Opportunities” or contact VHIB Grant Manager Jennifer Reichert at [email protected].