These awards have been instrumental in helping grantees bring projects to the development stage. For a number of years, The Public Service Department has provided the Board with funds for energy efficiency analyses in proposed housing developments. The Board provides grants to nonprofits for some of the costs associated with developing affordable housing and conservation projects. Twenty-one such awards were made to housing and conservation organizations in FY1998. The Board holds two competitions each year to evaluate farmland applications.
Evaluation is a two-step process.
Pre-applications are reviewed by an Agricultural Advisory Committee which includes farmers, representatives from Agricultural Extension Service, Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Farm Credit Service, the Department of Agriculture and members of the VHCB Board. This group recommends projects to be considered by the full VHCB Board and complete applications are developed for those projects. Evaluation is based upon soil quality, location, farm infrastructure, management, and other resources brought to the project. The value of the conservation easement is determined by an appraisal. Conservation projects eligible for VHCB funding include acquisition of natural areas that provide habitat for rare or endangered species, acquisition of lands to provide public access to trails or water, greenways, or acquisition of important historic sites for public use.