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ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: May 19, 2009 <br />Action Agenda <br />Item No. 4 - d <br />SUBJECT: Ratification of Submission of a Grant Proposal for the Farm Enterprise <br />Incubator at the WC Breeze Family Farm Extension & Research Center <br />DEPARTMENT: Economic Development & PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No <br />Cooperative Extension <br />ATTACHMENT(S): <br />Orange County Statement of Work <br />INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />Brad Broadwell_ 245-2325 <br />Noah Ranells 245-2330 <br />Fletcher Barber, Jr. 245-2050 <br />PURPOSE: To ratify the May 13, 2009 submission of a grant proposal for the Farm Enterprise <br />Incubator at the WC Breeze Family Farm Extension & Research Center to NC A & T State <br />University for inclusion in a grant proposal to the US Department of Agriculture Beginning <br />Farmer and Rancher Development Program. <br />BACKGROUND: The development of new farm enterprises and diversification of existing farm <br />operations can be challenging and pose considerable financial risk. Yet there are many <br />opportunities for production and marketing of farm products produced by local farmers. <br />With critical County funding of $10,000 in FY 2007-08, the PLANT @ Breeze Farm Enterprise <br />Incubator was initiated. An additional $10,000 was provided by the County in FY 2008-09 to <br />help leverage additional grant funds. <br />Through a strong effective interdepartmental collaboration, Cooperative Extension and <br />Economic Development developed and implemented a series of eight Wednesday evening <br />workshops in January and February of 2008, and repeated in 2009. With strong support from <br />the local community, attendance was 45 to 70 aspiring farmers for each of .the workshops of the <br />8-week training series held each January and February. Local farmers were involved in <br />presentation and discussion at each workshop, along with a local, regional, or state farm related <br />specialist. Following the workshop series, participants who wanted to farm land at the Breeze <br />Farm were required to complete a business plan. If approved, these participants were able to <br />contract for prepared planting beds and grow their own crops. Seven farm enterprises <br />participated in 2008 and 12 are participating in 2009. <br />Given the success this past year, Cooperative Extension and EDC have identified the need for <br />additional funds to support this project and expand the program activities. A grant subcontract <br />