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36 <br /> DRAFT/March 28,2025 <br /> Recommendation 11: Offer financial incentives for agriculture and agricultural <br /> development in the County. Skyrocketing land prices and high infrastructure <br /> costs in Orange County discourage and prevent new farmers from farming and <br /> impel established farmers to sell farmland for development. Direct financial <br /> incentives for agriculture are necessary to help counteract these deterrents. <br /> County programs in place include a) the Present-Use Value Property Tax <br /> Program with reduced tax rates for land in agriculture and related uses; b) <br /> economic development programs such as Agricultural Economic Development <br /> grants; and c) the Breeze Farm Incubator, which provides new and aspiring <br /> farmers with access to land, tools, infrastructure, and services in an arrangement <br /> that minimizes the start-up capital need to start a small farm. Priority Actions 11 a <br /> through 11 d provide mechanisms for enhancing and expanding these <br /> opportunities. <br /> The Priority Actions below are restricted to those that can be implemented at <br /> the County level (although the PUV pilot program described in 11 d would <br /> require State approval). Additional financial incentives requiring State approval <br /> and/or financial support should be explored in parallel with these County-level <br /> efforts. <br /> • Priority Action 11 a: Broaden eligibility criteria for Agricultural Economic <br /> Development grants to include agricultural support entities (e.g., NC <br /> FarmLink, Farmer Foodshare), and allow flexibility in awarding grant funds <br /> across three categories of recipient (new farmers, established farmers, <br /> agricultural support entities). <br /> BENCHMARK/PROGRESS INDICATORS FUNDING/RESOURCES <br /> • Grant criteria revised and Funding required <br /> publicized <br /> • Number of applicants per year in <br /> each recipient category <br /> • $awarded per year to each <br /> recipient category <br /> • Priority Action 11 b: Fund new-farmer-startup grants and develop tax credits <br /> to assist qualified new farmers with purchase of farmland. <br /> BENCHMARK/PROGRESS INDICATORS FUNDING/RESOURCES <br /> • Funds secured 0 County staff including new <br /> • Criteria for grant award proposed Ag Viability and <br /> established Farmland Stewardship position <br /> • Grant awarded 0 County Extension agent <br /> • Funding required <br /> 34 <br />