Adirondack Council Offering Farmers Micro-Grants
Program Now in 5th Year, Grants of up to $5k Available
ELIZABETHTOWN, N.Y. – The Adirondack Council and its Essex Farm Institute are seeking applicants for its Micro-Grants for Adirondack Farmers program. This year, the program will offer grants of up to $5,000 for Adirondack farms and value-added producers to implement environmentally beneficial and sustainable projects.
The Adirondack Park’s largest environmental advocacy organization and the agricultural institute it sponsors said they want to support local farmers and value-added producers across the Park by helping them enhance the environmental benefits their operations provide.
“Supporting Adirondack farms helps the local economy while protecting water quality, open space and wildlife habitat that isn’t common on the Forest Preserve,” said Adirondack Council Executive Director William C. Janeway. “Sustainable farms and local food are essential to the park’s quality of life.”
The Adirondack Park is a mixture of public and private lands. Public lands are protected as “forever wild” by the NYS Constitution. Private lands include commercial timberlands, farms, resorts, private homes, businesses, and 130 rural communities. Its year-round population of roughly 130,000 is spread across 9,300 square miles of forest.
The Adirondack Council’s Micro-Grant Program has awarded over $91,000 to support 72 projects since it began in 2016. Last year, the program awarded grants to 14 local farms and four other small businesses.
Historically, the grant program has emphasized supporting farms with adapting to and mitigating the impacts of climate change.
For the 2020 grant cycle, the scope has been broadened to include efforts to address climate issues and projects that support the overall environmental health of the Adirondack landscape and its communities. The Klipper Family Fund helped to establish the program and continues to support it.
“Local farmers are eager to make changes that protect soil and water, or save energy,” said Courtney Klipper, co-founder of the Klipper Fund. “But new investments and new methods can be risky for any business. Small grants to individual farms can help relieve some of that stress and encourage farmers to try new things. We are delighted to help them achieve their environmental goals through well-placed micro-grants.”
“Family farms provide our communities with wholesome local food, jobs and visitor attractions,” said Nathaniel Klipper, the other co-founder of the Klipper Fund. “They are an important part of the Adirondack Park’s quality of life.”
Courtney and Nathaniel are part-time residents of the Town of Essex.
Grants and Application Deadline:
Awarded for projects that enhance environmental benefits, which may include improving soil health or water quality, reducing carbon emissions, conserving energy, other environmentally healthy and sustainable farming efforts. Grants of up to $5,000 are available.
Eligible applicants are farms and value-added producers across the Adirondack Park.
Applications are due by March 31, 2020. To apply, please click HERE.
The Adirondack Council is a privately funded not-for-profit organization whose mission is to ensure the ecological integrity and wild character of the Adirondack Park. The Council envisions a Park with clean water and clean air, comprised of core wilderness areas, surrounded by farms and working forests, as well as vibrant communities.
The Adirondack Council carries out its mission through research, education, advocacy, and legal action. Adirondack Council advocates live in all 50 United States.
For more information:
John Sheehan, Adirondack Council, 518-441-1340 cell
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday, March 5, 2020
