APR Owners – Stewardship and Restoration Assistance (SARA) Grant Program
The application for MDAR’s SARA Program is currently open. This grant helps improve the status and condition of farmland that has been protected by an MDAR agricultural preservation restriction (APR). The goal of SARA is to restore the overall utilization of APR land resources for commercial agriculture.
SARA provides funding to help address stewardship issues and restore active commercial farming on APR land. Funds must be used for projects to restore inactive farmland back into active commercial agricultural use or to restore resources for increased agricultural production on existing APR farmland. Responder must not have been the original owner of the property when the land was placed under the APR unless the proposed restoration is in response to damage caused by a natural disaster or third party. Details about eligibility of participants and projects is contained in the RFR linked below.
Grant funds of up to $35,000 are available on a cost reimbursement basis with a 15% match of total project costs required by the farm participant.
Responses must be received by 2 pm, Friday, April 7, 2023. Details and application information here. Questions, contact Julie Weiss at Julie.Weiss@mass.gov or 617-913-5317.