Durham County | Ag Economic Development Grants

Durham County Agricultural Economic Development Grant Program

The Agricultural Economic Development (AED) Grant Program offers cost share grants to assist farmers and nonprofits in their agricultural endeavors and to promote agriculture development and outdoor environmental learning centers in schools.

AED Grant Brochure

Greenhouse with flowers growing.

2025 – 2026 AED Grant Information

The Durham County Board of County Commissioners has allocated $250,000 for for the 2025-2026 fiscal year.

The program provides two types of grants:

Small grants for Agriculture Development in schools: Up to $1,500
Grants for Farmers: Up to $10,000

Important Dates:

July 1, 2025: Applications Released
July 10, 2025: Grant Training Session. Register Here.
August 25, 2025 at 11:59 PM: Application Deadline
September 19, 2025: Notification of Award Status

Apply for the Grant

Applications can be accessed using the links below. Submissions are due August 25, 2025 at 11:59 PM.

Farmer and Nonprofit Application

School Application

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Eligibility

The 2026 Fiscal Year Guidelines for the AED Grant Program provides information on eligibility, application ranking metrics, and contract procedures. Guidelines are subject to change each fiscal year.

How to Apply

Use the links below to access the grant application forms.

If you have questions, please contact Sherry Scully at 919-560-0558 or SScully@dconc.gov.

Application Review and Award Notification

After the submission period ends, the AED committee will review the applications. Applications will be evaluated using the worksheet provided in the 2026 Fiscal year Guidelines Packet

The applicants selected for an award will be notified via email. Letters regarding award status will be mailed shortly after.

Next Steps for Award Grantees

All AED grantees are required to attend a training with Durham Soil and Water staff before contract completion and project implementation. This is a reimbursement grant. Work must not begin until after contract approval.