06/30/2006

Proposals Being Accepted for Farmland Protection Grants

Writer:

Martha Filipic
filipic.3@osu.edu
614-292-9833

Source:

Jill Clark, Center for Farmland Policy Innovation
clark.1099@osu.edu
(614) 247-6479

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio communities that want to try innovative ways to protect farmland can apply for funding from the Center for Farmland Policy Innovation at Ohio State University.

Proposals are due Oct. 2. The center expects to disburse $180,000 for projects, and anticipates receiving requests in amounts ranging from small to large.

"From letters of interest we've already received, I think we could spend the money we have available a couple times over already," said Jill Clark, the center's interim director. The center began operations in March 2006 with funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service.

Primary applicants for this funding, available through the center's Farmland Protection Partnership Program, must be a governing body of an Ohio county, township or municipality, but Clark is encouraging applicants to partner with other communities, agencies and nonprofit organizations. Proposals must include a 25 percent local match in either direct or in-kind funding. Other criteria for proposals include:

• The project is innovative and new to Ohio. This may mean incorporating policies new to the state of Ohio or combining existing policies or programs in new and innovative ways.
• The project can be implemented within a reasonable amount of time, typically one to two years.
• The project can translate into a model (be replicable) for other Ohio communities and the local partner is willing to participate in ongoing education for other Ohio communities.
• The end result of the project is an innovative farmland policy.

"Overall, we have three goals for this program," Clark said. "We want to see successful local projects in Ohio, we want to see innovative programs implemented so localities have examples in Ohio they can follow, and we want to build the capacity of local governments to work on protecting farmland. In the end, we want to help make sure Ohio's No. 1 industry -- farming -- remains viable and locally relevant."

Clark encourages applicants to contact the center for assistance in developing proposals and project budgets. For additional information or for a copy of the Request for Proposals, contact Clark at (614) 247-6479 or clark.1099@osu.edu, or see the center's Web site at http://cffpi.osu.edu.

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