SHELBY, N.C. – Cleveland County NC Cooperative Extension received the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners (NCACC) Excellence in Innovation Award at the August 11-13, annual conference.
In partnership with Civic Federal Credit Union, the NCACC offers the Excellence in Innovation Awards to recognize successful county programs that demonstrate innovative solutions.
Cleveland County received the award for its work with agricultural economic development. County commissioners continue to support local farmers and established agoal in their Strategic Plan which includes agriculture and agribusiness in the county’s economic development efforts. Production agriculture contributes $140 million yearly to Cleveland County’s local economy.
The NC Cooperative Extension, a partnership between state and local governments, headed locally by County Extension Director Greg Traywick, led the economic development efforts and responded with numerous resources to grow and diversify local farms and farm-related businesses.
These efforts included:
· A blended stream of funding to help construct a $1.8 million pavilion in Uptown Shelby that houses Foothills Farmers’ Market, one of the largest and best in the region. The grower-certified market operates year-round, providing a direct-to-consumer sales outlet to more than 75 vendors and serves thousands of shoppers each year
· A $228,750 USDA Rural Development grant that helped a local family-owned farming operation develop a value-added mulch bale containing a blend of rye straw and farm-raised switchgrass. This project reduced the farm’s dependence on purchased straw and significantly increased production. Wholesale of this new product to Lowe’s and Home Depot stores throughout the region generates $1.1 million in annual revenues.
· A $150,000 award from the NC Agricultural Development and Farmland Protection (NCADFP) program to equip a new grain marketing facility with a storage bin, grain dryer, mobile seed
cleaner, and truck probe. The project has provided service to 220 row crop producers, who benefit financially from shorter hauling distances, expanded market outlets, and competitive prices.
Agribusiness operations contribute $5 million annually to the region’s farm income in the form of direct payments to farmers. The local extension agency provides the region’s farmers with access to important resources that can help maximize crop yields and quality, essential elements of farm profitability, and long-term sustainability.
The Excellence in Innovation Awards program received over 50 applications this year highlighting the great work taking place across North Carolina counties. Cleveland County was one of ten winning programs. For more information on the Civic Excellence in Innovation Awards, visit www.ncacc.org/civicawards