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1 <br /> ORANGE COUNTY <br /> BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br /> Meeting Date: September 20, 2022 <br /> Action Agenda <br /> Item No. 8-b <br /> SUBJECT: Acceptance of NC Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation Trust <br /> Fund Grant — Poteat Family Farm <br /> DEPARTMENT: Environment, Agriculture, Parks <br /> and Recreation (DEAPR) <br /> ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: <br /> NCADFP Grant Contract David Stancil, 245-2510 <br /> Christian Hirni, 245-2514 <br /> PURPOSE: To accept a grant from the North Carolina Agricultural Development and Farmland <br /> Preservation Trust Fund (NCADFP) toward the acquisition of a conservation easement on the <br /> Poteat Family Farm. <br /> BACKGROUND: The landowner for this project owns 116 acres on the east side of Poteat <br /> Road in Cedar Grove Township. The landowner expressed interest in selling a working lands <br /> conservation easement on 110 acres of the historic farm property. The property has over 4,300 <br /> feet of stream frontage on four unnamed tributaries that drain directly into Back Creek, part of <br /> the water supply for the City of Mebane. This farm is part of an area that has a number of <br /> historically African-American owned farms. The Black Family Farm Land Trust has advised and <br /> assisted on this possible project. <br /> In 2020, the property was registered as a Century Farm through the NC Department of <br /> Agriculture, having been in family ownership for 100 years. <br /> In March 2021, the Board authorized staff to conduct an appraisal, identify and seek funding <br /> sources, and to develop a potential conservation project for future consideration. Staff has <br /> applied for two separate but collaborative State and Federal grant programs for matching funds <br /> — the North Carolina Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund <br /> (NCADFP), which provides an estimated 25% match, and the USDA Resource Conservation <br /> Partnership Program (RCPP), which provides up to a 50% match. The landowner intends to <br /> contribute 15% in donated value for the project. <br /> The NCADFP grant that has been awarded for up to $189,645 in matching funds for purchasing <br /> the easement. Staff are awaiting notification of approval for additional funds from the <br />