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Durham County Farm Campus feasibility study recommends phased plan, USDA grant pursuit and hiring a farm manager
Summary
A feasibility study recommended a phased Durham County Farm Campus to support food security, entrepreneurship and workforce development. Consultants and county extension staff said initial staffing could be modest but stressed hiring a full-time farm manager and pursuing USDA grants to offset operations.
County consultants and Extension staff presented the completed feasibility study for a Durham County Farm Campus and sought Board feedback on priorities and phasing.
Derek Fleming of HR&A Advisors said the study examined land feasibility, design and implementation options and noted transit access as a key concern; consultants recommended coordinated work with transit agencies and possible shuttle service to improve access. Fleming said the initial operational model could be managed with a small core staff, while calling out the need to scale staffing with program growth.
Donna Rewalt, County Extension Director, said the campus would support workforce development and entrepreneurship through incubator programming and early-farmer support, and said USDA grant applications would be pursued to underwrite operations. Rewalt said hiring a full-time farm manager would be a first step to offset day-to-day operational costs and shepherd grant applications.
Commissioners asked about staffing levels, transit access and partnerships with schools and immigrant/refugee communities. The presentation identified existing partnership opportunities and recommended phased implementation tied to funding and grant success. The Board did not take formal action but provided feedback and will consider how the campus fits into broader county priorities.
