OTHER-2025-005-Acceptance of the Agricultural Growth Zone Grant with the North Carolina Department of Agriculture

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• The Grantee is in "Green " status based on the ADFP Trust Fund Grantee Eligibility Classification system . This status requires all progress/budget reports, monitoring reports , audit reports , and other reporting documents to be current with the Agency. • The Grantee has followed the contractually obligated work schedule as detailed in the grant contract. If the Grantee fails to maintain the contractual agreement between NCDA& CS and the Grantee, NCDA& CS ADFPTF shall consider additional measures to ensure Grantee follows department policies and contract procedures . • The proposed conservation easement closing date shall be no less than 30 days before the contract end date . This timeline eliminates the risk of losing grant funds due to the contract's expiration . • All involved parties, including ADFPTF, Grantee, landowners, and all funding partners with a financial interest in the conservation easement, will confirm the closing date . • The closing check will be submitted to the closing attorney named ul the grant contract, provided all required information provided by the Grantee is complete approved by ADFPTF and NCDA&CS legal staff. • If a contract is at risk of not being completed , NCDA&CS may provide alternatives to reduce that risk, including revisions of the holdback provisions or the payment delivery options for services rendered by contractual arrangement . 12 . The Grantee shall also submit a final grant report after closing each agricultural conservation easement. In the final report, the Grantee shall provide all budget/progress reports, the final request for payment, and an accounting of the final match claimed by the Grantee to fulfill the 1 match requirement mandated under N. C .G. S . 106=744(c1 ) ( 1 ) . Grant contract budgeting and payments shall hold back 10% on all line items until ADFPTF receives all required reports and documentation . The full ADFPTF easement funding allocated for easement purchase may be submitted at closing, provided the closing attorney holds the 10% in escrow until all recorded documents and reports, including the recorded conservation easement, recorded survey, final title opinion signed by the closing attorney, final title policy, recorded subordination agreement (if applicable), signed HUD statement, and signed baseline documentation report, have been received and approved by NCDA&CS . The final report and all invoices are due within 20 working days (28 calendar days) following the closing and recording date of the conservation easement. If the Grantee fails to provide the final report and required supporting documentation within the required period, the Grantee may not receive reimbursement and shall be considered ineligible for reimbursement, mg of the hold-back percentage provided the following criteria 13 . Grantees may request a lower have been provided : • An official request to the Commissioner of Agriculture with reasoning why the 10% hold-back is an undue burden and a proposed revised holdback percentage . • The Grantee has no record of infractions or late reports for ADFPTF within the last two years from the revised hold -back percentage request date. 9