The Office of Farmland Preservation of the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has announced an Oct. 30 application deadline for localities interested in receiving state matching funds for local Purchase of Development Rights programs. OFP currently has $1,983,973.65 available to allocate as part of the FY 2016 certification round.
“Protecting our working farms and forest lands from development is a high priority in Virginia,” said Sandra J. Adams, VDACS Commissioner. “The protection of such lands is an important component of the Virginia Treasures initiative, the Commonwealth’s new strategy for conserving land and expanding access to public outdoor recreation. Working farms and forest land, as well as natural areas, parks and historic sites are important assets for Virginia’s economy and they all support the Commonwealth’s tourism, farming and forest industries, natural resources and the quality of life for all Virginians.”
Adams encourages localities with local PDR programs to take advantage of these funds, and she urges localities that may be considering such a program to create one right away. She added, “When we protect farmland, we not only protect our food supply, but we also provide green space, wildlife and plant habitat, recreational opportunities and many more benefits for all of Virginia’s citizens.”
In order to qualify for matching funds, localities must certify the amount of matching funds that they have available for the purchase of agricultural conservation easements by October 30, 2015. The form is available on the VDACS website at www.vdacs.virginia.gov/preservation/tools.shtml#forms. Click on “FY 2016 Fiscal CertificationForm – Due October 30, 2015.”
By this same deadline, localities also must submit an application to have the components of their local PDR program certified. That form is available by clicking on “FY 2016 Program Certification Form – Due October 30, 2015.” Localities must describe how their program addresses or matches the elements in A Model Purchase of Development Rights (PDR) Program for Virginia, a guide published by VDACS in November 2005: vdacs.virginia.gov/preservation/pdf/pdfprogram.pdf.
State matching funds will be divided among those localities that become certified to the extent that localities are able to provide a one-to-one match with these state funds. While VDACS encourages localities to use multiple funding sources to cover the costs of preserving their important farmland, OFP only will match those funds actually contributed to the program by the locality.
More information is available at vdacs.virginia.gov/preservation/index.shtml or by contacting Andy Sorrell, Coordinator, VDACS’ Office of Farmland Preservation, at 804.786.1906 or [email protected].
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