Montgomery County Commissioners recently approved $1.2 million for farmland preservation efforts, writes Taylor Millard for the Delaware Valley Journal.

According to Planning Manager Anne Leavitt-Gruberger, the state government will match and possibly exceed the contribution made by the county.

“In 2023, we certified $1.3 million, which then leveraged $2.8 million additional dollars for this program,” said Leavitt-Gruberger.

The funding provided by the Pennsylvania government comes from cigarette taxes, the Environmental Stewardship Fund, and other sources. The farm preservation funds have to be certified by the state by January 31 each year.

The Montgomery County funds were initially approved last year as part of the budgeting process. Out of the full amount, $4,000 will be used to help with “required annual inspections” of preserved farms by the Montgomery County Conservation Districts. The rest will go toward purchasing agricultural preservation easements.

“[Development is] restricted by these easement purchases to be farms,” said Leavitt-Gruberger. “We’re helping people preserve not just their family’s properties and their histories on these farms but also a rural way of life in a lot of these communities.”

Farm preservation is a significant part of the county’s “Montco 2040: A Shared Vision” comprehensive plan.

Read more about Montgomery County farmland preservation in the Delaware Valley Journal.

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