Senate approves Solid Rocket Motor Manufacturing Grant Fund, authorizing up to $97.74 million in grants

The Virginia Senate on March 5 passed Senate Bill 835 to establish a Solid Rocket Motor Manufacturing Grant Fund that could provide up to $97,740,000 in grant awards between July 1, 2025 and June 30, 2045.

Speaking to the measure, the senator from Portsmouth said the project is an MEI (Major Economic Initiative) approved project and noted that both budget proposals include $2.3 million of general fund money in the upcoming year to support the custom performance grant incentive program. "It creates a Solid Rocket Motor Manufacturing Grant Fund to provide up to $97,740,000 in grants between 07/01/2025 and 06/30/2045," the sponsor said.

The Senate adopted the bill on a unanimous recorded vote (Ayes 39, No 0). The sponsor framed the legislation as a long‑term economic development support mechanism and said the grants would be available to qualified manufacturing activity in the state.

The bill text and the sponsor's floor remarks identified the total maximum grant authority and the program timeline; the Senate action was a final passage vote on the floor. The transcript did not provide additional program design details such as application criteria, award caps per grantee, or reporting requirements; those specifics will be set in statute or implementing regulations as provided in the bill text.

Senate passage completes the chamber's action; the bill will move forward in the legislative process for any remaining steps, including the concurrence of the other chamber or signature processes as required.