Nonprofit
groups who want to help permanently preserve farmland
have until July 3 to apply for this year's funding
round. Grant awards will be announced by August
31. This is the first time the State Agriculture
Development Committee (SADC) has had the authority
to make grants available to private, nonprofit
organizations to fund up to half the costs of farmland
preservation projects, Agriculture Secretary Art
Brown, Jr., said. "I am pleased to welcome nonprofit
organizations as the newest partners in farmland
preservation," said Governor Whitman. "By working
together, we in New Jersey can ensure a greener
future for our children and all future generations
who will continue to benefit from our million-acre
open space investment in the Garden State." "Under
the Garden State Preservation Trust Act, the SADC
now is authorized to provide cost-sharing grants
to nonprofit groups," said Brown, who also serves
as chair of the SADC. "We look forward to working
cooperatively with them as we work toward Governor
Whitman's goal of preserving 500,000 acres of farmland
over the next decade." Grants will help fund the
costs of acquiring development easements on farms
or the costs of purchasing farms outright from
willing sellers. Grants are available for up to
50 percent of the purchase costs; there is no minimum
or maximum grant request amount. Any funding awarded
by the SADC is subject to approval by the Garden
State Preservation Trust and State Legislature.
Application
packages are available from the SADC at (609) 984-2504. |