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CABARRUS COUNTY <br />BOARD OF • • <br />* <br />REGULAR <br />JUNE 2 0 2016 <br />1 <br />AGENDA CATEGORY: <br />Consent Agenda <br />SUBJECT: <br />Planning and Development (Soil and Water) - Urban Agriculture <br />Conservation Initiative Grant Proposal <br />BRIEF SUMMARY: <br />The Soil and Water Conservation District intends to submit a proposal to <br />the National Association of Conservation Districts for a grant of up to <br />$50,000. The funding is intended to accelerate conservation planning <br />focused on under served populations and urban agriculture. The majority <br />of this funding would be budgeted for support staff, including consultants <br />and contractors. <br />The project funding period is August 1, 2016 - June 30, 2017. While a <br />financial or in -kind grant match is not required, additional funding may be <br />requested from the County's Trust Fund Supporting Local Food <br />Economy. Partnerships with local, regional and state agencies and <br />organizations will advance conservation on urban agricultural projects, <br />including public and private gardens and farms. These partnerships are <br />key to the long -term sustainability of this proposed project beyond the <br />one -year funding period. <br />Cabarrus Soil and Water Conservation District has been a leader in the <br />state on community conservation. This grant proposal complements the <br />grant- funded Green Growth Pilot Project that is underway with District <br />leadership. The District holds an agricultural conservation easement on a <br />20 -acre urban farmstead where conservation can be demonstrated to <br />groups. The District also owns a 35 -acre conservation field school on <br />land previously owned by an African American farmer. <br />This grant will enable the Conservation District to continue its leadership <br />F -12 Page 332 <br />