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)...
Click here for full text