MONMOUTH: Millstone, Upper Freehold to get farmland grants

Garden State Preservation Trust approves $500,000 for both towns

   TRENTON — The Garden State Preservation Trust recently approved grant requests for $3.6 million to help Monmouth County, a nonprofit organization and five communities, including Millstone and Upper Freehold, preserve farmland.
   The GSPT, which is the independent authority that acts as the gatekeeper of the $2.7 billion that New Jersey voters have approved for land preservation since 1998, recently approved $500,000 grants for both Millstone and Upper Freehold townships. Monmouth County was approved for a $1 million planning grant; Howell, Manalapan and Marlboro each were approved for $500,000 grants; and the nonprofit Monmouth County Conservation Foundation is in line for $107,500.
   The local grants, which were announced on Nov. 21 by state Agriculture Secretary Douglas Fisher, are among $79.5 million in requests that the GSPT approved statewide to further farmland preservation efforts. The Legislature will vote on the grants in appropriations bills that must be signed by the governor.
   ”The Christie Administration is committed to providing funds that enable New Jersey to continue our partnership efforts to preserve productive farmland and ensure agriculture remains a vital part of Monmouth County and the Garden State for all time,” Secretary Fisher said a statement announcing the grants.
   The State Agriculture Development Committee (SADC), which administers New Jersey’s Farmland Preservation Program, had made the following funding requests that were approved by the GSPT:
   • $38.5 million in grants to assist counties in preserving farmland under the County Planning Incentive Grant Program. Counties are eligible for a base grant of up to $1 million under this program. Both Monmouth and Mercer counties were among those approved for $1 million grants. A county that spends down its base grant is eligible to compete for additional monies from a $25 million competitive grant fund while it lasts; the potential maximum county grant is $6 million.
   • $16.25 million in grants to help 31 municipalities (including Upper Freehold and Millstone) preserve farms under the Municipal Planning Incentive Grant Program. Three towns in Cumberland and Sussex counties that are participating in the program for the first time are in line for $750,000 each, while the remaining 28 are slated to get $500,000 each.
   • $20.64 million for the SADC to directly preserve farms statewide under its State Acquisition Program; and
   • $4.1 million in grants to assist four nonprofit organizations in preserving farmland under the Nonprofit Program.
   ”New Jersey’s Farmland Preservation Program is critical to supporting our agriculture industry and way of life in Monmouth County,” said Tom Gilbert, chairman of NJ Keep It Green, a statewide coalition of more than 170 park and conservation advocates.
   ”This funding, made possible by the 2009 bond referendum, will continue the state’s strong commitment to preserving family farms to protect our quality of life and provide local, Jersey Fresh food for decades to come,” Mr. Gilbert said.