Title
Vote to approve the grant application for the Chatham County Farmland Preservation Plan Implementation Project to the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Service’s Agricultural Development Project grant program
Abstract
Introduction & Background: Under guidance of the Chatham County Agricultural Advisory Board (AAB), the Chatham County Soil & Water Conservation District staff in cooperation with the Chatham County Center for the N.C. Cooperative Extension has been preparing an update to the Chatham County Farmland Preservation Plan, originally adopted in 2009. The updated Farmland Preservation Plan is now in draft form, and following revisions, we anticipate submitting the plan update to the County Commission for approval and adoption in early 2024.
This grant application of $7,375 to the NCDACS’s Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation grant program will provide resources and supplies to assist in the outreach recommendations anticipated in the 2024 Farmland Preservation Plan update. The purpose of this project is to educate landowners, elected officials, and local community leaders administrators about the goals and objectives of the "2024 Chatham County Farmland Preservation Plan" and the newly created "Chatham Agricultural Preservation & Development (CAPD) Trust Fund." Part I of the project will target Chatham County farmers and working landowners through direct mail marketing, direct outreach, and a "Keeping the Farm" workshop to educate local agricultural producers about farmland preservation, farm transition planning, and other priorities identified within the Farmland Preservation Plan update. Part II of the project will target local elected officials, senior government administrators, and other community leaders about the results and goals of the Farmland Preservation Plan update. We will schedule and hold a Farmland Preservation Plan presentation targeted to this audience as well as a tour of a local farm (or farms) that have been preserved through farmland preservation efforts.
In addition, funding from this grant application will provide tools and resources that can be used on an ongoing basis for landowner outreach and education about farmland preservation opportunities, including displays and banners suitable for an outreach booth at local community events and printed materials for landowner distribution.
Matching resources of $4,050 for this grant application will be provided through in-kind donations provided by the Chatham County Soil & Water Conservation District and the Chatham County Cooperative Extension Center. These matching resources will consist primarily of the Farmland Preservation coordinators’ work time but also printing, office supplies, and consulting services.
Discussion & Analysis: The current (2009) Chatham County Farmland Preservation Plan identifies "Developing an Outreach Plan" as one of its primary "Action" recommendations in Focus Area 1: “Working Lands Protection.” Within this Focus Area are recommendations to "Develop an Outreach Plan," "Produce collateral material and programming to outreach to various audiences," and "Develop a series of educational tours for policy makers" as primary action items. This project supports these action item recommendations (and others) within the current (2009) plan.
Similarly, the draft version of the updated (2024) version of the Farmland Preservation Plan recommends the coordination of farmland protection outreach, education, and policy development. As an action step, the updated plan recommends that Chatham County “develop and implement an educational program for farmers and landowners regarding available farmland preservation tools,” as well as recommendation to “develop a marketing and branding strategy for farm and forest land preservation.” These action step recommendations, among others, will also be supported by this grant application.
How does this relate to the Comprehensive Plan: The current Chatham County Comprehensive Plan recommends "Encourage Participation in the VAD Program" and "Provide technical assistance to those who demonstrate interest in establishing agricultural conservation easements" as recommended strategies in its "Agriculture" section. This grant application will also support these strategy objectives from the Comprehensive Plan. The comprehensive plan notes that "Education and outreach was voted as the #1 thing the County should be doing, based on the Agricultural Survey" (quote on page 94). This grant applications supports those education and outreach recommendations identified in the Comprehensive Plan’s citizen survey.
Budgetary Impact: No budgetary impact is anticipated if the grant application is awarded. All matching resources provided by Chatham County will consist of in-kind contributions, such as the Farmland Preservation Coordinator’s work time and use of meeting space at the Chatham County Agricultural Center, or pre-existing budget items, such as printing and office supplies.
Recommendation/Motion: Approve the submittal of the Chatham County Farmland Preservation Plan Implementation Project grant application for the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Service’s Agricultural Development Project grant program.