The PATH Foundation Awards $25,000 Grant to Help Food & Beverage Production Entrepreneurs

February 10, 2026

CommunityGeneral News ArticleEconomicPress Release

The PATH Foundation Awards $25,000 Grant to Help Food & Beverage Production Entrepreneurs

Charlottesville, Virginia - February 5, 2026 - The PATH Foundation has awarded a $25,000 grant to Venture Central to support the development of a new regional business resource initiative serving food and beverage entrepreneurs in Culpeper, Fauquier, and Rappahannock counties. The project targets food & beverage companies seeking solutions to operational, compliance, and growth needs.

Planned activities include developing an online platform to access industry-specific tools, resources, suppliers, and networks, rotating office hours across participating counties, and county-based training workshops to engage and connect industry participants.

“Food and beverage businesses play a critical role in our local economies, but often lack access to industry-specific guidance,” said Hope Lawrence, Program Director. “This investment from PATH allows us to build supportive networks and resource infrastructure these businesses need as they grow and stay rooted in the region.”

“PATH Foundation is pleased to invest in this initiative as part of our ongoing commitment to strengthening small businesses and the regional economy,” said Margy Thomas, PATH Senior Program Officer.

The study that demonstrated the need for support of Central Virginia’s food & beverage manufacturers was funded by GO Virginia, whose objective is to foster private-sector growth and job creation through state incentives for strategic regional collaboration.

The project will begin in February 2026, with additional details to be announced as the initiative launches.

For more information, contact Hope Lawrence, Venture Central Food & Beverage Program Director, hope@venturecentralva.com.

Venture Central is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that supports the advancement of Central Virginia’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.

The PATH Foundation is a philanthropic foundation that supports Fauquier, Rappahannock, and Culpeper counties. The PATH Foundation invests in nonprofits and government agencies whose goals for wellness and community improvement align with its values and core focus areas.

The PATH Foundation Awards $25,000 Gr...