Title
Vote to accept North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Agricultural Growth Zone Grant in the amount of $295,443 and approve local match of $325,000
Abstract
Introduction & Background: The Agricultural Growth Zone grant is a new program initiated by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services dedicated exclusively for counties that provide local funds for farmland preservation and farmland conservation easement applications. Recipients of AGZ grants self-designate which projects can receive NCDA&CS funding to assist in the purchase of farmland conservation easements. Chatham County's designated "matching fund" contribution for this grant is the $325,000 already designated by the BOC for farmland preservation in FY25. No other match is necessary for the award of this grant. On September 3, 2024, Chatham County received notification that it had been awarded an AGZ grant of $295,444, pending approval from the Board of Commissioners.
Discussion & Analysis: The Chatham County Board of Commissioners established the county's farmland preservation program in October 2022, in part, to make Chatham County farmland preservation projects more competitive for state farmland preservation funding sources provided by NCDA&CS. The award of an AGZ grant from NCDA&CS is a recognition of the county's commitment to providing local funds for farmland preservation conservation easement acquisitions. This AGZ grant award provides greater flexibility for the Chatham County Farmland Preservation Program to work with local landowners. The county's matching commitment for this grant award is the $325,000 already designated for farmland preservation in FY25. No other match commitments are required. County farmland preservation staff will work with Triangle Land Conservancy to identify a suitable project(s) for the AGZ funds, once contracted.
How does this relate to the Comprehensive Plan: The 2017 Chatham County Comprehensive Plan suppo...
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