cabarrus county board of commissioners regular meeting november ...

715 Cabarrus Ave. W.Room 301Concord, NC 28027-6214Telephone: 704-920-3300Fax: 704-795-6432Email:detesterman@cabarruscounty.usWebsite: www.cabarruscounty.us/SandW/BOARD OF SUPERVISORSJeff GoforthChairmanLouis SutherVice-ChairmanNed HudsonSecretary-TreasurerJohnathon JohnsonMemberVicky PorterMemberTommy PorterAssociate MemberBob RitchieAssociate MemberSTAFFAmy GriffithAdministrative SecretaryDaniel McClellanResource Conservation SpecialistMEMORANDUMTO: Board of CommissionersFROM: Dennis TestermanDATE: October 27, 2011RE: NCDA Agricultural Development and Farmland PreservationTrust Fund Grant Contract for Conservation Easement onPorter FarmsENCL.: Contract DocumentA grant application submitted by Cabarrus SWCD to the subject TrustFund last December was approved for funding in the amount of$175,000 for purchase of a permanent conservation easement on aportion of Porter Farms. The Conservation District plans to use thesefunds in turn as a match for a $350,000 grant application to the U. S.Department of Agriculture Farm and Ranchland Protection Program.The Porter’s also have committed to providing a $175,000 in-kind match.The resulting conservation easement will provide permanentpreservation for a minimum of 54 acres of farmland that are zoned“Agriculture Open,” and already enrolled for ten years in the EnhancedVoluntary Agriculture District program.The conservation easement resulting from this grant contract willpermanently preserve private working land and the green infrastructurethat provides food and fiber. This project will result in economic andenvironmental benefits that improve the quality of life in CabarrusCounty. Conservation easements are consistent with BOC and SWCDstrategic planning goals.What better farm to be partially preserved with a permanentconservation easement than Porter Farms, winner of the 1999 NorthCarolina Conservation Farm Family and the 2011 SwisherSweets/Sunbelt Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year awards!Dennis TestermanResource Conservation SpecialistAttachment number 2G-3Page 398