Farmland Preservation Advocates:

I am pleased to announce the Clean Ohio Agricultural Easement Purchase Program (AEPP). Because of the overwhelming citizen support for the Clean Ohio Fund and its continuation, this program, as well as the other Clean Ohio funded programs, is able to continue to serve the state’s needs. This year, we have a few new tools to assist landowners and local sponsors in understanding the program, as well as assisting in application creation.

• Clean Ohio AEPP Fact Sheet - provides basic information on the program, including: purpose, program requirements, scoring priorities, and the finalist selection process.

• Local Sponsor Handbook - provides detailed information regarding the need for farmland preservation, the application process, finalist selection, and easement placement.

• FAQ for Local Sponsors - answers questions about the application process and shares the answers with other local sponsors across the state using the newly-implemented FAQ page.

• Clean.Ohio.gov - a new web site that provides links to additional program information and resources.

• Local Sponsor Meeting, February 10, , 10 a.m. to noon, Bromfield Building, ODA - a meeting geared toward local sponsors who are not familiar with the online application or those who would like to review how to put together an application. Those interested should RSVP to farmlandpres@agri.ohio.gov or by calling 614-728-6210.

• Landowner Informational Meetings - bring ODA’s Farmland Preservation staff to you. Information sessions are being held across the state regarding the Clean Ohio AEPP. For more information, or to find the location nearest you, visit http://www.agri.ohio.gov.

Lastly, please remember to look through this year’s policies and guidelines, which include more details on the 2009 Clean Ohio AEPP funding round. If you have further questions, please do not hesitate to contact our office at 614-728-6210 or email us at farmlandpres@agri.ohio.gov.

Sincerely,

Mark A. Forni
Executive Director