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Person County approves application for state farmland-preservation grant to boost voluntary programs
Summary
Person County commissioners voted to approve applying for a North Carolina Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation (ADFP) grant to support voluntary agricultural district programs, marketing and outreach to landowners.
Person County commissioners approved a motion Dec. 2 to apply for a North Carolina Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation (ADFP) grant to support the county’s voluntary agricultural district (VAD), enhanced VAD (EVAD) and agricultural conservation easement programs.
Nancy McCormick, Person County soil and water director, told commissioners the county’s farmland-preservation ordinance (adopted Oct. 17, 2022) supports three voluntary programs: a 10‑year renewable voluntary agricultural district (VAD), an irrevocable 10‑year enhanced VAD (EVAD) recorded with the register of deeds, and agricultural conservation easements held in perpetuity. McCormick said VAD and EVAD status can provide program benefits such as signage, priority in state cost‑share ranking, and possible waivers of county utility assessments.
McCormick said current enrollment under the new ordinance is low: two farms enrolled in the VAD and one enrolled in the EVAD. She said an outreach mailing in September generated more interest and, by Nov. 25, the office had received more than 31 VAD applications and more than 13 EVAD applications. McCormick told the board the ADFP grant funds would be used for signs, outreach events, direct mail to eligible landowners, brochures and other marketing materials.
At the meeting McCormick described the ADFP program’s maximum grant amount as $85,100 with a 15% local match anticipated to be provided in kind by Soil and Water staff. The board then voted to authorize submission of the grant application and to authorize the county manager to accept the funds if awarded.
Motion and vote: The motion to approve the grant application and authorize the county manager to accept any awarded funds passed by unanimous voice vote.
Next steps: County staff said the grant application is due Jan. 17, 2025; staff will proceed with the application and, if awarded, implement outreach and enrollment activities to grow participation in the VAD/EVAD programs.
