The Tobacco Communities Reinvestment Fund aims to assist farmers and rural communities to develop new sources of agricultural income through provision of cost-share grants. The Reinvestment Fund will make two types of demonstration awards: Producer Grant Awards up to $10,000 for individuals and Community Grants Awards up to $30,000 for collaborative farmer projects.
The Fund will make cost-share demonstration grants to farmers, farm organizations, and community groups in the Western Piedmont Region of North Carolina. This includes: Alexander, Alleghany, Anson, Ashe, Burke, Cabarrus, Caldwell, Catawba, Cleveland, Davidson, Forsyth, Gaston, Guildford, Iredell, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Rowan, Rutherford, Stanly, Stokes, Surry, Union, Wilkes, Yadkin, Davie, and Rockingham.
DEADLINE FOR APPLICATION is January 13, 2010.
Tight margins for most commodity crops and changing farm programs provide new challenges for North Carolina farmers. The purpose of the Reinvestment Fund is to help farmers to develop enterprises that allow them to earn more for their products through innovative production, processing, or marketing approaches.
The Tobacco Communities Reinvestment Fund is supported by a grant from the North Carolina Tobacco Trust Fund Commission.ELIGIBILITY
Qualifying PRODUCERS must be farmers, who are actively engaged in full or part-time farming in the Western Piedmont region. Priority is given to farmers who earned a significant portion of their income from tobacco at the time of the Master Settlement Agreement (1997-1998) and to projects that create an opportunity for a new generation of farmers.
Qualifying COMMUNITY GROUPS must include qualifying farmers from the Western Piedmont region, and farmers must be active in the leadership of the group. Groups of farmers, farm coops, farmer associations, churches, local business, civic organizations, or combination of these are eligible and encouraged to apply.
Eligible PROJECTS are those that: have a likelihood of generating new farm income; establish new markets for local products and services; develop new uses for greenhouses; add value to existing farm products by processing, packaging or marketing in a special way; make new use of tobacco facilities and equipment; maintain or create quality employment, including self-employment or opportunities for home-based businesses; make optimal use of on-farm and natural resources.
High Priority will be given to projects that are innovative and demonstrate a new direction or opportunity for farmers in North Carolina.
IMPORTANT DATES!
Early Bird Deadline - December 18, 2009
Application Deadline -January 13, 2010
Award Notification - March 9, 2010
Interim Report Due - TBA
Final Report Due - TBA
Projects Completed - TBA
APPLICATION & DETAILED INFORMATION
http://www.ncfarmgrants.org
Jason Roehrig
jason@rafiusa.org
919-542-1396
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