The Agricultural Economic Development Grant Program will assist local farmers to develop new sources of agricultural income through the provision of cost-share grants.
Donor Name: Orange County
State: North Carolina
County: Orange County (NC)
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 12/31/2023
Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000
Grant Duration: 3 Years
Details:
Applicants must be able to demonstrate that their operation is a verifiable farm business. The farm tract and farming operation on which the funds are to be used must be in Orange County.
This program is intended to provide assistance to Orange County farmers in developing new sources of agricultural income through the provision of cost-share grants. Individual grant limit is $10,000. Farmer applicants must be able to demonstrate that their existing operation is a verifiable farm business meeting the following requirements:
- Land – owned or leased by applicant in Orange County
- Infrastructure – suitable for existing operation and any required expansion
- Market – defined, accessible, with history of sales
- Experience – knowledge, ability, and demonstrated relevant experience
- Concept – demonstrates a valid need and specific request
Or, in the case of a newly developing farm enterprise, the applicant must be able to demonstrate the following requirements:
- Land – owned or leased by applicant in Orange County
- Infrastructure – suitable for proposed project (site, etc.)
- Market – researched, defined, and accessible
- Experience – knowledge and ability relative to the proposed project
- Concept – demonstrates a valid need and specific request
Funding Information
The maximum amount any one farm can receive within 3 years of initial funding is $10,000. Multiple applications and subsequent awards of less than the $10,000 limit may be made within the 3-year period by one farm entity but may not exceed $10,000 in total awards for the 3-year period.
Eligibility Criteria
- The farm tract and farming operation on which the funds are to be used must be in Orange County in areas zoned appropriately for their use.
- Collaborative/Group grants must include at least 3 farmers and may include agricultural groups and agencies.
- Applicants and their businesses must not have any past due tax, fee, or fine applicable to Orange County. The Orange County Tax Office will review and follow-up with businesses that are found to have outstanding taxes and apply to the grant program.
- Applicant must be current with any existing Orange County Small Business Loan, or Emergency Small Business Loan Payments.
- Duplication of benefits prohibited. No individual business or affiliated owner(s) shall receive in excess of $10,000 from Orange County’s Small Business and Large Business Investment Grant Programs, the Agriculture Grant Program, and any other County grant awards over a two year period. Some individual programs may have more stringent restrictions in an effort to spread the funding across as many individual operations as possible. For the Agriculture Grant Program, as noted below in the guidelines, the $10,000 maximum covers a 3-year period. This prohibition includes a situation in which the same owner(s) owns multiple businesses. In such a situation if one or more of the multiple businesses applied for a grant(s) the maximum available to any one or more of such businesses is $10,000.
- Individuals who have taken legal action against the County in the past 12-months, or have an active legal case, and who applies for any available County grant program, are ineligible to apply for and receive grant funding through Orange County Government until the settlement or dismissal of such legal action.
- Businesses in which Orange County elected officials have any financial or ownership interest are ineligible to apply.
- Businesses in which grant program administrative staff of the Orange County Economic Development Office, the Orange County Cooperative Extension Office, and the review committee members of the Business Investment Grant and Agriculture Grant programs have any financial or ownership interest are ineligible to apply. Other Orange County employees and Advisory Board members not directly connected to the grant program are eligible to apply.
- Applicant must agree to the following terms and conditions to submit their application: “By submitting this application, you are (1) certifying that all the information provided in this application is true and accurate; (2) Granting us permission to contact your primary bank, mortgagor or landlord (as applicable), any owner of the business, or otherwise verify information included in your application if determined helpful in assessing your application; and (3) Agreeing to cooperate and assist in the verification of information provided in this application and to provide additional information if requested. Applicant further understands that should the Applicant herein be awarded assistance and there is a subsequent determination that misleading or false information was provided in this application or otherwise provided to obtain the assistance, the Applicant may be subject to civil or criminal penalties
For more information, visit Orange County.
