Today, Governor Bob McDonnell announced $100,000 worth of grants geared toward the preservation of Virginia farmland. Albemarle County is one of eight localities that will receive a $12,500 grant.
"One of my top environmental priorities is to permanently preserve 400,000 acres of land during my administration," said McDonnell in a press release. "The budget proposal I submitted to the General Assembly in December includes an amendment to provide $400,000 more for Purchase of Development Rights programs in the next fiscal year for a total of $500,000 in grant funding." The 400,000-acre preservation total matches that of former Virginia Governor Tim Kaine, who reached his goal with the help of Biscuit Run.
Clarke, Fauquier, Isle of Wight, New Kent, Northampton, and Spotsylvania counties and the City of Virginia Beach will also receive grants.
In other news, McDonnell is planning to release a revised plan to privatize ABC stores. His previous attempt overestimated the money that could be generated from privatizing Virginia liquor stores. To read C-VILLE’s cover story on the governor’s ABC privatization plan, click here.
