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February, 2008
WALTON, NY – Farmers, agricultural event coordinators, and local not-for-profits are invited to submit their event ideas for funding through the Sustainable Agriculture and Education (SAE) Event Grants. Sponsored by the Watershed Agricultural Council (WAC) and the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (NYCDEP), the SAE Grants support the promotion of local agriculture and consumer awareness.
Now entering its second year, the SAE Grant program seeks to connect the Pure Catskills brand and Buy Local theme with regional farmers and producers and their ultimate audience, local consumers. “A major goal of this program is to actively engage our regional community in the act of buying local food,” says Farm to Market Manager Challey Comer. “By offering funding to our members, we create a great incentive for participation, but we also empower each business to teach their customers how to support local farms, all in a festive setting.”
Request for Proposals are available by clicking here.
Grant proposals must be received by March 22, 2008. The maximum award to each grantee will be $5,000.
Event coordinators are expected to provide a 25-percent match through in-kind and/or cash contributions. Each SAE event must incorporate a minimum of three Pure Catskills members and help further the program’s mission. “The Pure Catskills Buy Local campaign assists regional farm and food-related businesses in marketing and production, while educating the community on how to support those businesses,” adds Comer. “We’re also promoting the benefits of sustainable agriculture, land conservation practices as ways to enhance water quality and the direct impact of buying local on our local economy.”
Grants are available to farmers, business owners, local agencies, individual consultants and community
organizers with knowledge about the agricultural community. Events must be held in one of six eligible
counties -- Delaware, Greene, Otsego, Schoharie, Sullivan and Ulster – and be held between March 30, 2008 and December 31, 2008. Proposals must include conceptualization, planning, organization, publicizing and orchestration of an event that will raise awareness and appreciation for local agriculture. Examples of past events include culinary spotlights on regional fare, seasonal harvest festivals and educational events focusing on the area’s agricultural heritage. Applicants may propose projects that expand upon existing events or that create
entirely new venues. SAE Grant applications can be downloaded by clicking here; applicants
requiring a paper grant application may call Leslie Deysenroth at the Watershed Agricultural Council, (607) 865-7017.
The Watershed Agricultural Council is a locally based, not-for-profit organization whose mission is to support
the economic viability of agriculture and forestry through the protection of water quality and the promotion of land conservation in the New York City watershed region. The WAC is funded by the New York City Department of Environmental Protection, the U.S. Forest Service and other public, foundation and private sources. The Watershed Agricultural Council is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.
For more information, contact:
Challey Comer, Farm to Market Manager
Pure Catskills Buy Local Campaign
Watershed Agricultural Council
(607) 865-7017
ccomer@nycwatershed.org
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