44-10-44. Farmland Conservation Fund Program created; grants; costs of administration.

There is established the Georgia Farmland Conservation Fund Program to be administered by the department. In administering the program, the department shall, each fiscal year, make available moneys from the Georgia Farmland Conservation Fund for matching grants to any prospective qualified easement holder having a project proposal which has been reviewed by the department and approved by the council.#

Any project proposal selected to receive a matching grant through the program shall have as its primary purposes the advancement of farmland conservation and the support of active farming and food production in this state. Award grants from the program may include payment:#

1. (1)

   To qualified easement holders for the purchase of agricultural conservation easements on qualified farmland, for advancing farmland conservation, and to support active farming and food production in Georgia; or#

2. (2)

   For the costs of acquisition related to the purchase of agricultural conservation easements approved by the program.#

As a cost of administering the program, the department may annually deduct and retain an amount equal to 5 percent of the fund.#