Over 4.5 Million in funding for The Natural Resources Conservation Service in 2012
The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) just received $4,589,047 in Farm and Ranchland Protection Program (FRPP) funds for federal fiscal year 2012 in Virginia. This is almost twice as much funding as last year! The NRCS will use this money to assist Virginia’s land conservation community in the purchase of conservation easements on private lands.
For anyone new to FRPP; NRCS provides financial assistance to land conservation organizations preserving farmland in the state. The NRCS is looking to assist those who are acquiring easements on Prime Farmland or land containing significant cultural or historic resources. NRCS does not hold the easement, but does acquire a backup enforcement role as a condition of the financial assistance. The organizations that the NRCS can partner with include private land trusts, local governments, and state agencies or any combination of these.
Like many federal funds, FRPP must be matched against non-federal funds to commit it to a project. It is a very generous match formula, in some scenarios the NRCS could contribute $3 to every $1 contributed by a partner. To leverage the entire $4.58 million of federal funds could take as little $1.5 million in state, local, or private funds, if a landowner were donating a portion of the easement value.
The NRCS is currently soliciting applications for FRPP funds from land conservation organizations, with the first batch of applications due by February 3, 2012. Initial awards will be based on applications received by this date. The NRCS is continuously accepting applications however, so please do not hesitate to send an application after that date. Also, please keep in mind that if the NRCS is not able to find projects and matching funds for this $4.58 million then Virginia will lose this money to another state.
Please find attached, a copy our criteria for evaluating applications in 2012. Any organizations that are interested in applying for FRPP funds and are able to match a portion of the federal contribution should contact me at jeremy.stone@va.usda.gov or 804-287-1666 to obtain application materials.