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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION: CABARRUSCOUNTY Cooperative Extension - Cabarrus Center to collaborate on a farm incubator to encourage and train beginning farmers and to provide access to farmland. The Elma C. Lomax Incubator is in its third year of operation, ensuring quality local food sources flourish by supporting existing farmers while encouraging a new generation of farmers. The incubator farm works much like a business incuba- tor. Individuals interested in starting an agricultural business receive classroom instruction on the business of farming as well as hands -on farm experience. Participants develop and manage their own business under the guidance of seasoned farmers. The farm, a certified organic operation, sits on 30.6 acres donated by Elma C. Lomax for use as a public park. It is owned by Cabarrus County and managed by the N.C. Cooperative Extension - Cabarrus Center. Infrastruc- ture and operational costs are paid for by a grant from the state's Agricultural Development and Farmland Preserva- tion Trust Fund as well as a grant from The Cannon Foundation and a fund established by the Cabarrus County Board of Commissioners exclusively for farmland preservation and agricultural development. It is financed by deferred taxes paid on farmland out of present - use tax valuation. The county also is creating a local meat - processing operation and store in partnership with a local processor. Through this venture, independent farmers will have access to a USDA - inspected slaughter and meat - processing operation that will support expansion of local meat sales and help reduce the cost of locally produced meat by mini- mizing time and travel cost. Cabarrus County also has been extensively involved in an effort to build a statewide local -food economy. As an early partner in the Farm to Fork initiative at N.C. State's Center for Environmental Farms Systems, the county hosted regional meetings and working -issue teams to identify best practices and regional challenges for developing and maintaining local, sustainable food systems. The initiative subsequently sent a state action plan to the General Assembly, which established the N.C. Sustainable Local Food Advisory Council. Cabarrus County Manager John Day, an early and steadfast supporter, was S TRONGTEAM. STRONG BANK. This team represents nearly 150 years of combined experience working with business and professional clients large and small. • On -line cash management and deposit products • Business Lines of credit • Business Leases • Business Loans • Customized commercial real estate loans If your bank is not delivering more than you expect, we need to talk! Bill Connolly, Cabarrus County Executive Linda Gibson, Commercial Relationship Manager Stuart Jones, Commercial Relationship Manager Dana Ritchie, Commercial Relationship Manager Mark Crum, Commercial Relationship Manager 271 Copperfield Blvd., Concord, 723 -6300 appointed to the council by then -Sen. Marc Basnight, D- Manteo, as a repre- sentative of the N.C. Association of County Commissioners. The old economy of textiles and tobacco is gone, but the push for innova- tion is building a stronger, healthier and more sustainable economy sure to pay even higher dividends for Cabarrus County, its businesses and its residents. ■ 3890 Main Street, Harrisburg, 455 -1070 A P R i L 2 0 1 1 Attachment number 1 1 -1 Page 301 Finding ways to help our customers when other banks could not.