WALTON, NY - Farm and food businesses focused on the development and promotion of local products are encouraged to apply for funding through the Pure Catskills Sustainable Agriculture and Education Grant Program (SAE). This program is sponsored by the Watershed Agricultural Council (WAC) and the New York City Department of Environmental Protection in order to advance the WAC's mission 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.
 
Funding will be awarded in three categories:
1.       Product development:  purchase and installation of equipment and supplies for activities related to adding value to a local farm or food product. 
2.       Marketing:  promotional expenses related to sales of local farm and food products. 
3.       Outreach and education:  public events and activities that educate the regional community about local farm and food products.

 
Eligibility requires a current membership in the Pure Catskills buy local campaign.  Pure Catskills members include farms, retailers, farmers' markets, restaurants and food-related organizations that support the local food system within Delaware, Greene, Otsego, Schoharie, Sullivan and Ulster Counties.  Up to $5,000 is available to each applicant with a 25% match required.  Projects and events of diverse scale and scope will be considered; large production volume or event attendance will not make individual applications more apt to receive funding.
Request for Proposals are available through the Pure Catskills website, www.purecatskills.com. Applicants are strongly encouraged to access application materials online.  Grant proposals must be received by April 15, 2010.  For more information, contact Challey Comer at ccomer@nycwatershed.org or (607) 865-7090. 
 
Pure Catskills is an economic initiative of the Watershed Agricultural Council.  The purpose of WAC is to protect both the rural, land-based economy of the watershed region and the drinking water quality of over nine million people. Working with farmers, agri-businesses, forest landowners, forest industry professionals and others, WAC seeks to enhance both business profitability and environmental stewardship. It also champions the use of conservation easements as an option to keep land within a working landscape context. The Council works through partnerships with other nonprofit organizations, government agencies and community stakeholders to achieve its purpose. For more information, visit www.nycwatershed.org.

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