Source:  Press Release, 8/2/10

Gov. Beverly Perdue on Monday announced an $18.4 million package of programs to help North Carolina farmers rebound from the recession.

Under the Family Farm Innovation Fund, five state and federal programs will help farmers lower energy costs, launch renewable energy projects, implement value-added production and develop other sources of farm income. Over the next year, they are expected to provide grants for up to 1,500 farm projects and energy efficiency training for an additional 2,400 farmers.

"This initiative builds on the legacy of innovation in North Carolina's family farms, and it is another step forward in our JobsNOW economic recovery efforts," Perdue said in making the announcement at the N.C. Rural Economic Development Center.

The programs are operated by USDA's Office of Rural Development, the North Carolina Farm Bureau, the Rural Advancement Foundation International-USA and N.C. MarketReady, a project of the N.C. Cooperative Extension Service.

Funding is provided by state and federal appropriations and the N.C. Tobacco Trust Fund Commission. The Rural Center is coordinating the partnership of the programs and administering the state appropriation through its Agricultural Advancement Consortium.

Applications are available now for:

Rural Energy for America Program. Administered by the USDA Office of Rural Development, REAP grants and guaranteed loans help farmers, ranchers and rural small businesses with energy efficiency improvements and renewable energy projects.

Value-Added Producer Grants. These USDA-Rural Development grants help farmers produce and market value-added agricultural products.

Farm Energy Efficiency Project. The N.C. Farm Bureau project provides low-cost energy audits and grants to help farmers boost energy efficiency. The energy audits and grants may be used to fulfill requirements of USDA's REAP program.

Tobacco Communities Reinvestment Fund. A program of the Rural Advancement Foundation International-USA, the fund offers cost share grants to help farmers develop new sources of income.

N.C. Value-Added Cost Share Program. Administered by N.C. MarketReady and the N.C. Agricultural Foundation, the program provides assistance with grantwriting, feasibility assessment, matching funds and equipment to help farmers implement value-added production. The assistance may be used in applying for the USDA Value-Added Producer Grants.

Agricultural organizations will be reaching out to farmers statewide to share details of the programs. Additional information also is available on the Rural Center's website, www.ncruralcenter.org.

The N.C. Rural Economic Development Center is a private, nonprofit organization whose mission is to develop sound economic strategies that improve the quality of life in rural North Carolina, with a special focus on individuals with low to moderate incomes and communities with limited resources.

Family Farm Innovation Fund
Program Contacts

Rural Energy for America Program, USDA-Rural Development: David Thigpen at 919-873-2065 or david.thigpen@nc.usda.gov

Value-Added Producer Grants, USDA-Rural Development: Neal Sherrod at 919-873-2043 or neal.sherrod@nc.usda.gov

Farm Energy Efficiency Project, N.C. Farm Bureau: Lendy Johnson, 919-782-1705 ext. 8209 or lendy.johnson@ncfb.org, website: www.ncfarmenergy.org

Tobacco Communities Reinvestment Fund, RAFI-USA: Joseph Schroeder, 919-621-0534 ext. 208 or joe@rafiusa.org, website: www.ncfarmgrants.org

N.C. Value-Added Cost Share Program, N.C. MarketReady: Brittany Whitmire, 919-830-9557 or brittany_whitmire@ncsu.edu, website: www.ncmarketready.org