Farmland Protection Implementation Grants Program - Round 19

Additional Details

$4.5 million available within each of ten regions across New York State. Additional $2.25 million set aside for contingency funds to cover unanticipated project cost increases.

Eligible Applicants

Additional Requirements

Applications for funding will only be accepted from: (1) any county agricultural and farmland protection board in a county with an approved county plan developed pursuant to Section 324 of Article 25-AAA of the Agriculture and Markets Law; OR RFA0294 Round 19 FPIG – Agricultural Conservation Easement Projects Page 5 of 37 (2) any municipality which has in place a local farmland protection plan, provided the proposed project is endorsed for funding in a letter provided by the agricultural and farmland protection board for the county in which the municipality is located; OR (3) any not-for-profit conservation organization that will assist a county or municipality to implement a county or municipal agricultural and farmland protection plan approved by the commissioner, provided the proposed project is endorsed for funding in a letter provided by the county agricultural and farmland protection board for the county in which the proposed project is located and the proposed project must also be endorsed for funding in a letter provided by the municipality in which the proposed project is located; OR (4) any soil and water conservation district that will assist a county or municipality to implement a county or municipal agricultural and farmland protection plan approved by the commissioner, provided the proposed project is endorsed for funding in a letter provided by the county agricultural and farmland protection board for the county in which the proposed project is located and the proposed project must also be endorsed for funding in a letter provided by the municipality in which the proposed project is located. For purposes of this section, a “local farmland protection plan” may include a town, village or city comprehensive plan as defined in the Town Law, the Village Law, or General City Law, if such plan includes an element which considers agricultural uses and needs; an open space plan adopted by the municipality which presents strategies for the preservation of viable agricultural land; or any other formal agricultural and farmland protection planning document provided that if the plan was developed on or after January 1, 2006, it must comply with section 324-a of Article 25-AAA of the Agriculture and Markets Law. Any applicant that intends to apply for the first time for a proposed farmland protection implementation project is urged to contact the Department regarding the applicant’s eligibility prior to submitting an application. An application submitted by an ineligible applicant shall not be considered for funding under this RFA. The applicant must be the entity that is the Grantee (or “holder”) of the perpetual agricultural conservation easement. If there will be more than one Grantee, then each Grantee must be identified as a Joint Applicant on the application submitted in response to this RFA and only one of those Joint Applicants shall be identified in that application as the Lead Applicant. If awarded, the State will enter into a funding agreement with only the Lead Applicant. New York State vendors must register in the Grants Gateway to become established users in the system. Therefore, each entity that intends to submit an application in response to this RFA must be registered. If your entity has not registered, you will be unable to access this grant opportunity and unable to submit any applications. Furthermore, all not-for-profit conservation organizations that intend to submit an application must also be pre-qualified prior to the submission of your application(s). If your not-for-profit conservation organization has not pre-qualified in the Grants Gateway by the time you submit your application(s), each application you submit will be rejected. However, each rejected application may be resubmitted and considered for funding under this RFA once your not-for-profit conservation organization has become pre-qualified provided this RFA is open to receive applications and make awards by the time the application is resubmitted.

Geographic Eligibility

All