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Golden LEAF awards $475,000 to launch Durham County Farm Campus
Summary
Cooperative Extension will receive a $475,000 Golden LEAF Foundation grant to begin Phase 1 of a Durham County Farm Campus and fund a full‑time Farm Manager over a three‑year grant period (Feb. 5, 2026–Feb. 4, 2029).
Durham County Cooperative Extension asked the Board to recognize a $475,000 grant from the Golden LEAF Foundation to fund Phase 1 of a Durham County Farm Campus. The three‑year award will support foundational infrastructure, programming, personnel and the creation of a full‑time Farm Manager position (1.0 FTE) identified as essential in the feasibility study that guided site acquisition and planning.
County staff noted the Farm Campus has been in planning for over a decade and that Durham County purchased 129 acres on Orange Factory Road in 2024 following a feasibility study funded by USDA. The Golden LEAF award will fund site development, equipment and program startup; Golden LEAF is providing $150,000 toward salary and benefits for the Farm Manager with the remaining $65,350 to be provided by Durham County in year three of the grant term. Staff cautioned that additional county funding may be needed after the grant ends to sustain the position.
Resource persons listed for the item included Donna Rewalt, County Extension Director; Raina Goldstein Bunnag, County Food Security Coordinator; and Ashley Troth, Horticulture Extension Agent. The County Manager recommended the Board approve the budget ordinance recognizing the grant and creation of the FTE.
