FARMLAND PROTECTION GRANTS PROGRAM
PROJECT TRANSACTION GRANT
GUIDELINES AND APPLICATION
For more information, contact:
Adam Bishop
Maine Farmland Trust
97 Main Street, Belfast, Maine 04915
(207) 338-6575
www.mainefarmlandtrust.org
INTRODUCTION
M
aine Farmland Trust (MFT) offers Project Transaction Grants of up to $10,000 through our Farmland Protection Grants Program. Grants are awarded to cover certain transaction costs associated with projects that will permanently protect active farmland in Maine through agricultural conservation easements (donated and purchased) and fee acquisition.
Grant funds are available on a reimbursement basis only, awarded upon project completion. ______
ABOUT MAINE FARMLAND TRUST
MFT is a statewide non-profit organization working to protect farmland, support farmers, and advance the future of farming. Since our founding in 1999, MFT has been involved approximately 200 projects placing agricultural conservation easements on farm properties. MFT has undertaken many of these projects in partnership with local or regional land trusts.
PROJECT TRANSACTION GRANT OVERVIEW
Purpose The primary aim of the program is to accelerate the pace of farmland protection in Maine. MFT wishes to contribute to greater farmland protection in the state by providing local and regional land trusts with the financial and technical support needed to complete more farmland protection projects. These grants are intended assist in in protection of working farmland by funding a portion of project transaction costs. MFT land staff is also available to consult with land trusts considering applying, to help assess the project’s suitability for grant funding.
In addition to providing grant support and/or assistance with fundraising, MFT can also offer to any land trust at no cost the following types of technical assistance for farmland protection projects: 1) review of agricultural conservation easements; 2) evaluation of farmland monitoring procedures; 3) assessment of farmland viability.
Grant Awards Grants will be awarded to cover a portion of the transaction costs for farmland protection projects that are completed within 12 months of award acceptance. The maximum grant award for a single project is $10,000, although MFT expects that most grant awards will not exceed $5,000.
An application must clearly document the land trust’s commitment to match the grant with a cash sum that meets or exceeds the amount of the grant award. The match must consist of actual funds; in-kind contributions do not meet the matching requirement.
Funds will be awarded on a reimbursement basis and will be dispersed directly to the holder land trust following the project’s successful completion. Documentation of match (acceptable to MFT) must be provided prior to funds being dispersed.
Project transaction grants may be used in conjunction with MFT’s stewardship matching grant. The total amount that MFT will award from the combination of both grants will not exceed $10,000.
Deadline Applications will be accepted at any time, and MFT will endeavor to respond as soon as possible (with the goal of responding within six weeks).
Since this is a competitive program with limited annual funding, it is possible that MFT will disperse all of the funds available for a given year prior to the receipt of a grant application. In such an instance, MFT may invite the applicant to re-apply for the subsequent cycle of funding.
NOTE: It is possible that upon receipt of an application, MFT may determine that it could better serve the land trust, and the project for which it seeks funding, by engaging in a special fundraising effort to raise the needed project funds. Any decision to engage in a special fundraising effort would be made jointly with the holder land trust.
Please email all application materials to:
Adam Bishop, .
You may also mail your application materials to:
Maine Farmland Trust
Project Transaction Grant
97 Main Street, Belfast, ME 04915
Attn: Adam Bishop
Inquiries Applicants are welcome to review projects with MFT staff prior to submitting applications. Please contact Adam Bishop at the Maine Farmland Trust office, (207) 338-6575, or via email: .
APPLICANT ELIGIBILITY
Land trusts meeting the following criteria are eligible for a Project Transaction Grant:
· Applicant is a qualified conservation organization with a 501(c)3 designation from the Internal Revenue Service;
· Applicant’s service area is within the State of Maine;
· Applicant is reasonably certain that the project will close within a 12-month period;
· The applicant demonstrates a commitment to securing matching funds, and upon completion of the project can verify that matching funds are available.
PROJECT ELIGIBILITY
Project transaction grant support is provided to eligible land trusts for the following types of projects:
· Donated agricultural conservation easements (preference will be given to donated easement projects);
· Purchased agricultural conservation easements;
· Fee acquisition, provided that the property will be protected with an agricultural conservation easement and re-sold to a farmer, or farmers;
· All projects must involve the placement of a permanent agricultural conservation easement on a property that is suitable for an economically viable farm operation. Projects on properties that are not currently farmed are not precluded, as long as MFT believes those properties are well-suited to farming (preference will be given to projects on land that is currently being farmed);
· The easement to be placed on the property must be structured with adequate flexibility to enable commercially viable agriculture to occur. In most instances, the easement is expected to either follow MFT’s boilerplate for donated agricultural easements or to follow another easement model which also ensures that the property is well-positioned for future farm use, including provisions that allow a farmstead area and new agricultural structures.
EVALUATION CRITERIA
· Project type (donated easement, purchased easement, or fee acquisition);
· Current activity level of farm and potential future use;
· Degree of certainty that property can support viable commercial agriculture activity;
· Presence of good agricultural soils;
· Likelihood that, if not protected, the property will be converted to non-farm use;
· Proximity to other active farms;
· Proximity to other protected land (not necessarily farmland);
· Project readiness;
· The land trust’s demonstrated organizational capacity to draft, monitor, and enforce a suitable agricultural conservation easement (or willingness to partner with MFT to do so).
NOTE: Additional weight will be given in two instances: 1) when the project is a collaborative effort involving multiple landowners, parcels, or entities; or 2) where the farm provides an outstanding demonstration of innovative agricultural practices.
PROJECT COSTS ELIGIBLE FOR GRANT FUNDING
Grants may cover transaction costs associated with farmland protection projects, provided that the costs are incurred and the transaction closes within 12 months of award acceptance. (Funds are provided on reimbursement basis only.) Eligible project costs may include:
· Survey
· Land trust appraisal (grant funds are not available for landowner/donor appraisal)
· Environmental assessment
· Other relevant project costs, with prior approval by MFT
GRANT AGREEMENT
Before grant funds are distributed, the landowner and the holder land trust must sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that describes each party’s roles and responsibilities. A sample MOU is attached.
REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
The holder land trust must file a Final Performance Report with MFT no later than 30 days after the easement has been placed on the property. MFT will provide a reporting form. This report must include a copy of the recorded easement and documentation that matching funds have been received, and must be submitted to MFT before dispersal of grant funds.
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
Your application must include the following materials. You may submit your materials as a single PDF via email to . Or you can mail the materials (one copy) to the MFT office: 97 Main Street, Belfast, ME 04915; attn. Adam Bishop.
1. Completed Project Application Form
2. Property Maps (all of which should indicate property boundaries):
a. Soils map (for maps, contact your local Natural Resources Conservation Service office or visit the USDA Web Soil Survey at http://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov/app/HomePage.htm)
b. Aerial map (Google Earth map is suitable)
c. Tax map(s)
d. Land use diagram delineating fields, woods and wetlands along with explanation of land uses present or proposed on the property (e.g., orchards, cultivated cropland, forage crop, wooded pasture, farmstand, etc.) Google Earth or GIS format preferred, but not required.
3. Supporting Materials
a. Copy of the land trust’s mission statement. (If the mission does not specifically discuss farmland protection, please briefly describe how this particular project helps meet the organization’s goals);
b. Copy of the land trust’s most recent year-end financial statement and current year operating budget;
c. Copy of the land trust’s IRS (c)(3) determination letter;
d. List of the land trust’s current staff and Board of Directors;
e. Photographs of the project property;
f. Copy of the proposed agricultural conservation easement (if available) or copy of organization’s easement boilerplate (if such boilerplate exists);
g. Copy of Purchase and Sale Agreement (if purchase easement or fee);
h. Additional Supporting Information (OPTIONAL): map of land trust service area, map of nearby conserved lands, and any printed materials, press articles, or other information that supports your application.
4. Signed Available Cash Match Form executed by the land trust, verifying that the required cash match will be available upon project completion. This verification form can be found at the end of this application.
PROJECT TRANSACTION GRANT
APPLICATION FORM
Please write or type directly in this form. If more space is needed, you may answer questions on separate paper. However, please limit each response to no more than a half (½) page.
Application materials may be submitted by email as a single PDF (including supporting materials). You may also send one copy of the materials via US mail. (See Application Instructions for more details.)
1. APPLICANT INFORMATIONa) a) Land Trust Name
b) Land Trust Address
(Street Address)
(Town, State Zip Code)
c) Total acreage conserved
by land trust / Acres under easement: / # of easements:
Acres owned in-fee: / # of fee parcels:
Farmland acreage under easement: / # of fee farmland parcels:
Farmland acreage owned in-fee: / # of farmland easements:
a) d) Please describe land
b) trust’s experience with
c) drafting, monitoring, and
d) enforcing agricultural
e) conservation easements. / We are new to farmland protection work, but are eager to learn more.
We have completed 1-5 farmland protection projects
We have completed 6+ farmland protection projects
Comments (optional):
f) e) Does land trust currently
g) use a boilerplate
h) agricultural easement
i) document? If so, does it
j) cover the following? / No
Yes, it includes the following (check all that apply.):
Ability to construct new farm-related buildings and infrastructure.
Allows for construction of farm worker housing.
Allows reconfiguration into 2 separate farm parcels (if suitable).
Requires Forest Management Plan.
Requires NRCS Conservation Plan.
Designates Farmstead Areas. If so, is the Farmstead Area covered by the
easement? Yes No
k) f) Indicate who you anticipate holding the easement for this property. / Our organization (MFT is willing to assist your organization if it is new to
agricultural easements.)
MFT (MFT generally prefers to NOT hold easements that could be held by a
local or regional land trust, but will do so where that is the best alternative.
Another land trust (please list: ______)
2. PROJECT SUMMARY
a) Project Title (or Farm Name)
b) Farm Location
(Street address)
(Town, State Zip Code)
(County)
c) Acreage / Total Acreage:
Open/tillable acres:
Wooded acres:
d) Farmland Soils / Acres in Prime Farmland Soils:
Acres in Soils of Statewide Importance:
Acres in Soils of Local Importance (as available):
Acres in Unique Farmland Soils (e.g., blueberries):
e) Estimated Closing Date
g) Please disclose any factors that might
delay the closing beyond the projected
date.
3. DESCRIPTION OF FARM OPERATION
a) Current Farm Uses
(check all that apply) / Beef
Blueberries
Dairy / Goats
Hay
Hogs / Horses
Orchard
Poultry / Sheep
Vegetables
Other (list):
b) Briefly describe the current farm
operations. Document commercial
activity on the farm, including how the
products are marketed (e.g., sold to
processor/wholesaler, direct sales via
farmers markets and/or farm stand).
c) Does the property meet the State’s
definition of a current farm (by
raising crops or livestock with an
average annual value of at least
$2,000)? If not, please describe why
this property is well suited for farming
in the future. / Yes
No
d) Briefly describe proposed agricultural
uses of the property (if different from
current operations).
e) If applicable, discuss how the farm
could be an outstanding
demonstration of innovative
agricultural practices.
f) Discuss whether the property is
threatened by conversion to non-farm
use. (For ex., is the property going
through generational transfer? Is the
farmer struggling to stay in business? Is
there high development pressure
in the area?
g) List active farms in close proximity
to the property.
Provide farm name, type of farm, and
town (if different from the town in which
applicant property is located).
h) Is any part of the land rented by
farmers who rely on its availability? / Yes
No
i) Does the farm have an NRCS
Conservation Plan? / Yes (If so, when was it last updated?______)
No
j) Does project involve more than farm
property, multiple landowners, and/or
multiple conservation partners? / Yes (If yes, please explain.)
No
k) List nearby protected land (not
necessarily farmland)
Provide property name, easement or fee
holder, and town. OPTIONAL: attach a
map indicating farm locations.
4. AWARD REQUEST
a) Amount of Award Request
b) Please briefly discuss why MFT grant
funds are essential in enabling this
project to occur.
c) Has the required cash match already
been secured (either raised or pledged)?
Proposal prepared by:
Signature of Landowner: ______Date: ______
Signature of Land Trust Board President or Executive Director: ______Date: ______
PROJECT BUDGET
Please write or type directly on this form
Organization Name:
Project Name: