RCCA has instituted a program to provide one-time grants for assistance with administrative fees associated with a conservation easement. During FY 2012, RCCA has budgeted $10,000 and may continue the program if it proves successful. For these grants, the easement must be donated to an Accredited Land Trust, the Virginia Outdoors Foundation (VOF), or a conservation-related state agency (e.g.: the Dept. of Forestry). This will limit the likelihood of a poorly written easement.

This is a one-time grant of 50% of easement administrative fees, up to $5,000 per recipient. Funds will be dispersed in the last quarter of 2012 for easements recorded in 2012 or scheduled to be recorded before the end of the year. Under special circumstances, the Board may disperse funds in advance if it deems that such leverage is needed to have the landowner move forward. Such dispersal of funds may be in the form of a loan.

Applicants must have already met the standards of the accredited land trust, VOF, or state agency accepting the easement. If we receive more applications than we are able to fund, the easement committee will determine the grant awards based on expenses incurred and conservation value of the land (size and composition), giving special consideration to farm and forestland.

Guidelines and Applications for 2012 will be posted by September 1, 2012.