Source: NCDA&CS, 2/4/16

To help promote agritourism farms across North Carolina, the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is providing a marketing cost-share grant opportunity through the support of the North Carolina Tobacco Trust Fund Commission.

Funds can be used for marketing materials and tools, which can include and are not limited to: E-newsletter subscriptions, graphic design, production and printing of custom brochures, value-added product labels, professional directional on- and off-farm signage, and development or refresh of website. These tools should be used in conjunction with a clear strategy that such an investment will result in more visitors to the farm and/or an increase in revenue based on additional sales of value-added products and services.

This is a marketing cost-share grant available to farms that welcome visitors. Farms will invest $1 for every $3 in grant money received for approved projects for individual farms. For example, a $250 farm investment will result in a $1,000 grant. A $500 farm investment will result in a $2,000 grant, and a $1,000 investment will result in a $4000 grant. Contact Brenna.Bunch@ncagr.gov for information and application.