The Chatham County Farmland Preservation Program is now poised to deepen its roots, courtesy of a hefty sum it has received from the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. A total of $303,818 in grants has been awarded to the program, which prides itself on the conservation and nurturing of Chatham County's agricultural landscape. The grants will fund the acquisition of farmland preservation conservation easements, and provide a boost to ongoing farmland preservation efforts within the area.
According to the Chatham County government's announcement, the more substantial portion, seeing $295,443 from the ADFP's "Agricultural Growth Zone" grant program, sets its sights on supporting the acquisition of permanent conservation easements. "Only counties that provide local funding for farmland preservation were eligible to apply for the Agricultural Growth Zone grants," said Andrew Waters, farmland preservation coordinator with Chatham County. This financial boost signifies the interplay between local and wider governmental support in nurturing the agrarian heartlands of North Carolina.
The Chatham County program also received additional support to the tune of $7,375 from the ADFP's "Agricultural Development Project" grant program. This fund is expected to catalyze the farmland preservation program, beefing up resources necessary for efficient service delivery to Chatham County landowners. "As a new program, we're still getting off the ground as far as some of the resources we need to serve Chatham County landowners," Waters commented on the status and future of the program, as mentioned in the Chatham County announcement.
The local funding that triggers eligibility for these grants, stems from the Article 46 tax referendum that garnered support from Chatham County voters in March 2020. Following the initial year of offering local farmland preservation grants in 2023, the program anticipates publicizing its 2024 grant schedule in October. For additional inquiries, farmland owners are encouraged to get in touch with Waters at [email protected] or through a direct call at 919-545-8447.
