Washington, D.C., June 30, 2006—The Grand Rapids Community Foundation announced it will provide a $9,000 grant to American Farmland Trust (AFT) to accelerate farmland and open space protection efforts in Kent County, Michigan. AFT’s work in Kent County is made possible by the generous support of the Grand Rapids Community Foundation, Frey Foundation, Steelcase Foundation and the Wege Foundation.

Scott Everett, AFT’s Michigan State Director, is working with local citizens and community leaders to develop and implement a “blueprint for moving farmland and open space protection forward in Kent County” that aims to broaden the public’s understanding of farmland protection issues and ultimately win support for a publicly funded program.

“Kent County has already taken several important steps that have laid the groundwork for this latest effort—including the adoption of a farmland preservation ordinance, the creation of an Agricultural Preservation Board, and conservation easements placed on several key farms with the support of privately raised funds,” says Everett. “However, the most challenging goal remains the need to secure a permanent source of public funding to ensure that additional farms are protected from the path of development.”

Each year, the United States loses nearly 1.2 million acres of farmland, “which is just a huge waste,” says Everett. Michigan leads the nation in producing more edible beans, blueberries, tart cherries, cucumbers, flowering hanging baskets, geraniums, Niagara grapes, hosta and impatiens than any other state. It is the second leading producer of celery and the third leading producer of apples, asparagus, snap beans, carrots, Concord grapes and radishes. In addition, the state’s production of milk, soybeans, corn, cattle, hogs, annual bedding plants and woody ornamentals provide the highest cash receipts for Michigan agriculture. Unfortunately, in its most recent study, AFT found that Michigan also ranks ninth in the nation in the loss of prime farmland.

“Preserving farmland protects the abundant food supply in our nation, provides important economic and environmental benefits like wildlife shelter and scenic open space, and helps to improve our water and air quality,” adds Everett. “That’s why these efforts in Kent County and throughout Michigan are so important.”