Somerset County Government: Somerset County Receives $2 Million ‘PIG' Grant For Farmland Preservation

Press release from the Somerset County Government:

02/07/2022 1:19 PM

SOMERVILLE, NJ – The Somerset County Agricultural Development Board (SCADB) was awarded

a $2 million Planning Incentive Grant (PIG) to expand farmland preservation purchases in 2022. The County is also eligible and applying to receive an additional $4 million of funding available to counties and municipalities on a first come, first-serve basis.

“Preserving farmland helps sustain our local economy through agrotourism, brings in money to local businesses, creates jobs, and preserves ecologically sensitive land,” said Somerset County Commissioner Deputy Director Melonie Marano, liaison to the Agricultural Development Board. “We are extremely happy about receiving this grant that will allow us to add to our already 8,630 preserved acres of farmland in Somerset County.”

As a new grant program, PIG provides more advantages for counties versus the traditional Farmland Preservation Program. Through PIG, counties can accept applications all year rather than once a year. The new program also reduces the processing time between landowner application submissions to the finalization of closing, and if the preservation transaction is completed promptly counties will receive additional funding.

The State Agriculture Development Committee (SADC) administers PIG, leads the preservation of New Jersey farmland, and promotes innovative approaches to maintaining the viability of agriculture. The SADC consists of 11 members; six of those members are appointed by the Governor with the approval of the Senate, and five are ex-officio members. Four members must be active in farming, and the other two members represent the general public.

State Agricultural Development Committee (SADC)
The SADC provides grants to counties, municipalities, and nonprofit groups to help fund farmland preservation, and offers grants to landowners that will help fund up to 50 percent of the cost of soil and water conservation projects. The SADC also administers the Right to Farm Program, oversees the Transfer of Development Rights Bank, and operates the Farm Link Program, which helps connect farm owners to farmers seeking access to farmland and farming opportunities.

Somerset County Agricultural Development Board (SCADB)
Since the SCADB’s inception in 1983, over 8,630 acres of farmland in Somerset County have been preserved successfully with the assistance of municipalities, the Somerset County Board of County Commissioners, and the State Agriculture Development Committee.

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This press release was produced by the Somerset County Government. The views expressed here are the author’s own.