| APRIL 3, 2012 -- In December 2011, the Department of Agriculture announced that it will provide $2,000,000 in funding to Connecticut's new Community Farms Preservation Program. The Program, now under way, allocates Community Investment Act funds for cooperative state-local farmland preservation projects in qualifying municipalities and promotes locally-supported farmland preservation.
"One of the most exciting aspects of this program is that it is an especially good fit for smaller farms that have excellent agricultural soils and contribute to local economic activity, but which may not be eligible for other protection programs. Now we are able to provide an opportunity for those farms to ensure their land is not converted to non-agricultural uses and for Connecticut to ensure its best agricultural soils remain available for production," explained Connecticut Commissioner of Agriculture, Steven Reviczky.
The Community Farms Preservation Program will be implemented in two phases. Interested municipalities need to complete pre - qualification steps by May 31, 2012. Find more information on the Department of Agriculture website.The department expects to complete evaluation and determine projects that will become part of the pilot program by October 1, 2012. |
