2008 PRESS RELEASES
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September 5, 2008
STATE ANNOUNCES OCTOBER 17 DEADLINE FOR FARMLAND PRESERVATION MATCHING FUNDS APPLICATION
Contact: Elaine Lidholm, 804.786.7686
The Office of Farmland Preservation of the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) has announced an October 17 application deadline for localities interested in receiving state matching funds for local Purchase of Development Rights (PDR) programs. The Commonwealth of Virginia allocated $500,000 for this program in Fiscal Year 2009.
By October 17, 2008, localities must certify the amount of matching funds that they have available for the purchase of agricultural conservation easements. The form is available on the VDACS Web site at www.vdacs.virginia.gov/preservation/index.shtml. Click on the line that reads “FY 2009 Fiscal Certification Form – Due October 17, 2008.” By this same date, localities also must submit an application to have the components of their local PDR program certified. That form is available by clicking on the line that reads “FY 2009 Program Certification Form – Due October 17, 2008.” Localities must describe how their program addresses or matches the elements in A Model Purchase of Development Rights (PDR) Program for Virginia, which was released by VDACS in November 2005.
State matching funds will be divided among those localities that become certified to the extent that localities are able to provide a one-to-one match with these state funds. While $500,000 has been allocated, the current fiscal situation facing the Commonwealth could result in reductions in the Biennium budget. As a result, the actual amount available in state matching funds may be less than originally allocated.
Click here for more information is available at www.vdacs.virginia.gov/preservation/index.shtml; by contacting Kevin Schmidt, Coordinator, Office of Farmland Preservation, Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, 102 Governor Street, Richmond, VA 23219; or by calling 804.786.1346, faxing 804.371.2945, or e-mailing kevin.schmidt@vdacs.virginia.gov.