Let us link you up with the programs you need to grow!
If you currently own a farm or farm related business, or you are in the fishing industry in Suffolk County, you've come to the right place! The Suffolk County Department of Economic Development is your link to the numerous federal, state and local programs that can help your business succeed!
New York State Environmental Investment Program - Financial assistance is given to projects that help businesses and institutions promote waste prevention, when solid waste is reduced at its source, reused, or recycled into new products. Farm waste is a covered solid waste. For more information call (518) 292-5340.
There are numerous County, State, Federal, and privately funded sources for targeted financing available to new or expanding businesses in Suffolk County. A financing specialist at the Department of Economic Development is available to consult with business owners about the programs that best meet their needs. Value added farm production, such as canning, preserving, freezing, dying, dehydrating, pickling, bottling are eligible.
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Suffolk County Revolving Loan Fund, administered by the Long Island Development Corporation (LIDC) - Provides financial assistance for the construction or renovation of privately owned commercial buildings, equipment purchases and, in some cases, working capital. Loans of $25,000 to $150,000 are financed through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Section 108 Loan Guarantee Program. For more information, go to http://www.lidc.org/ or call (516) 349-7800.
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Suffolk County Industrial Development Agencies (IDA)
Encourage job growth on Long Island by providing economic incentives to retain businesses in Suffolk County and encourage new businesses to relocate to Long Island. IDA financing is intended for moderate-sized and large organizations, private and not-for-profit organizations can apply. Value added farm and fishing projects are eligible, however, because of the cost of the financing most projects need to have a value of at least $1 million to make this form of financing economical.
Contacts:
| Babylon IDA |
(631) 226-3669 |
Riverhead IDA |
(631) 727-3200 |
| Brookhaven IDA |
(631) 451-6563 |
Suffolk County IDA |
(631) 853-4802 |
| Islip IDA |
(631) 224-5512 |
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Long Island Development Corporation (LIDC) Programs
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Long Island Targeted Industries Revolving Loan Fund
Low, fixed rates for targeted industries including agriculture and fisheries. Loans range from $10,000 - $250,000 with long term and fixed interest rates.
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MicroLoan Revolving Loan for Women Owned Businesses - Provides short-term loans ranging from $2,000 to $25,000 for working capital needs, purchase of equipment or inventory for start-up and expanding businesses.
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SBA Loans - Available programs include SBA 504 subordinate loans of up to $1 million to assist small businesses to buy land and renovate buildings and machinery. Also, low-documentation SBA 7(a) loans, with a simplified application process and faster turn-around.
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LI Fisheries Assistance Revolving Loan Fund - Loans up to $150,000 at below market fixed rates for up to 10 years (20 years on fixed assets) with free technical assistance from Cornell Cooperative Extension to commercial fisherman & fishing related industries negatively impacted by pollution or regulation. Contact Long Island Development Corporation (see below) or Empire State Development at (631) 435-0717
For more information, call the Long Island Development Corporation at (516) 349-7800 or go to http://www.lidc.org/
Community Development Corporation (CDC) Lending Programs:
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Micro Loan Program -- Provides loans up to $35,000 to small businesses to meet working capital needs, purchase equipment or almost any legitimate business purpose.
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Micro Enterprise Conditional Grant Program -- Working with the Trickle Up program, this program offers basic business training materials, individual technical assistance, and a $700 grant for motivated, lower income individuals to create and / or expand a small business.
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Childcare Loan Program -- Seeks to expand the availability of quality child care to serve the children of low-income people and public assistance recipients who are entering the workforce.
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Nassau-Suffolk Business Development Fund, LLC-- Lends to growing small businesses that lack the capital, collateral or cash flow required for traditional bank financing.
For information on CDC programs, call (631) 471-1215 or go to: www.cdcli.org
Federal Programs
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President George W. Bush's February call to improve e-government have blossomed with http://www.GovBenefits.gov. The Web site, launched through the initiative, links users with appropriate programs via an anonymous questionnaire. Answers to the questionnaire determine which programs are available to meet a user's needs. For instance, a student making $9,000 annually can expect to answer about 10 questions in order to locate several loan and grant programs available for studies. The site offers useful information for disaster victims, farmers, the unemployed, veterans and others.
Currently, the site offers links to about 55 assistance programs, but that number will increase rapidly each month as the site's creators at the U.S. Labor Department and Office of Management and Budget hope to eventually provide information for 300 programs. The addition of state and local programs and online benefit applications may also soon be in the works.
Barns Restoration - The New York State office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation has a grant program to help restore 1937 barns and outbuildings. To find out next deadline and application procedures click here: www.nysparks.com/grants/
Crop Insurance - U.S. Department of Agriculture - Crop Insurance protects agricultural producers against crop losses resulting from circumstances beyond the producer's control. the program, which is administered by USDA's Risk Management Agent (RMA), offers several different plans of Multiple Peril Crop Insurance (MPCI) policies for most crops. Availability of these crop policy plans varies by state and county. For a listing of insurance companies and agents offering crop insurance coverage, visit: www3.rma.usda.gov/tools/agents
Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program - U.S. Department of Agriculture- The Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) provides financial assistance to eligible producers affected by natural disasters. This federally funded program covers non-insurable crop losses and planting prevented by disasters. Eligible non-insurable crops include commercial crops and other agricultural commodities produced for food (including livestock feed) or fiber and may include other specialty crops such as floricultural, ornamental nursery. Christmas tree crops, turf grass sod, seed crops, aquaculture (including ornamental fish) and industrial crops.
Program Contact Information & Web Resources - Producers interested in receiving risk protection under this program must file an application for coverage and pay the application service fee prior to the crop's application closing date. These application closing dates are established by your local State Farm Service Agency (FSA) Committee and are published annually.
For more information or help in identifying your application closing dates and coverage periods, please contact your local FSA office. Contact information for each FSA office can be obtained at: http://www.fsa.usda.gov/wa/
Additional Programs
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Pollution Prevention Small Grants - Designed for small waste reduction programs, specifically some reduction and waste minimization priorities in agriculture or industry. Click www.epa.gov/region2 for more information.
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Suffolk County Agricultural District Program - A tax abatement program to relieve active farm areas of property tax burdens for short 8 year cycles, which also affords farm protection under New York State "right-to-farm" laws. For more information call (631) 727-7850
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Farmland Preservation Program - Purchase of Development Rights
Development Rights are sold, the farmer maintains ownership of the land. The right to ever develop the land for commercial or residential use has been sold. Development Rights can be purchased by Town, Suffolk County, or private conservation groups such as a land trust.
Funding for the Purchase of Development Rights comes from many sources
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The Community Preservation Fund. Each of the five East End towns collects a 2% real estate transfer tax at time of sale until the year 2020. (Potentially over $100 million available through 2020)
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Suffolk County matching funds, or outright purchase of development rights.
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New York State's farmland preservation program & matching funds program.
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New York State Environmental Facilities Corporations - $25 million available at no/low interest.
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Federal Government has $50 million available right now for farmland preservation. $100 million may be available in October 2002.
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Private Conservation Programs through land easements or gifting of land.
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Check with local Towns to see if they also have programs.
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Suffolk County Department of Economic Development
The Department of Economic Development provides information and assistance to businesses in an ongoing effort to foster economic prosperity in Suffolk County. The department focuses on financial and technical assistance, import/export trade development, and general support. The department has an office at Francis S. Gabreski Airport in Westhampton Beach.
Contact: Carolyn E. Fahey - (631) 853-4800/1(800) 762 GROW
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Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) -- A cooperative effort between the U.S. Small Business Administration and the State University of New York. It offers assistance with the preparation of business plans and technical assistance to existing and start-up businesses.
For more information, contact any of the following SBDC's:
SUNY Stony Brook: (631) 632-9070
website:
http://www.stonybrook.edu/commcms/sbdc/
Field Offices at: (631) 287-0059/283-6000 Ext. 280
Brookhaven National Lab: (631) 344-2393
- SUNY at Stony Brook Programs
Small Business Innovation Research Program (SBIR) - Offers an engineering resource for businesses, while increasing R&D funding opportunities for small businesses. Can help design new tools needed for a business. Call (631) 632-9070 for further information.
SUNY Farmingdale SBDC: (631) 426-2765
website: http://www.farmingdale.edu/campuspages/campusaffiliates/sbdc/homepage.htm
Empire Development Zones (EDZ's)
Suffolk County currently has three empire development zones, located in the Towns of Brookhaven, Islip and Riverhead. Food related businesses which locate in an EDZ could be eligible for significant incentives, including:
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A real property tax exemption of 100% for the first seven years (graduating to full assessment over the following three years)
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Low-cost financing to help offset the cost of the land
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A 10% state investment tax credit
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Wage tax credits for tangible personal property used to improve real property
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A 40% reduction in electric bills (for non-retail businesses)
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A capital credit against personal or corporate income tax for the purchase of shares in an EDZ capital corporation, certain EDZ direct equity investments or contributions for EDZ community development projects
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A reduction in sales taxes
For more information, contact the following EDZs:
EPCAL Calverton: (631) 727-3200 ext. 287 (Riverhead EDZ), http://www.riverheadli.com/
Central Islip: (631) 224-5512 (Islip EDZ), http://www.townofislip-ny.gov/
North Bellport: (631) 451-6563 (Brookhaven EDZ), www.brookhaven.org
For more information on empire development zone benefits: http://esd.ny.gov/businessprograms/empirezones.html
Import/Export Assistance
International trade loan - New York State provides short and long-term financing to small businesses involved in exporting, as well as businesses adversely affected by import competition. For more information on state import/export assistance go to http://www.empire.state.ny.us/.
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U. S. Small Business Administraton - SBA Export Express is a new pilot loan guaranty program for small scale exporters with financing needs too small to be met profitably by traditional lending sources. Its goal is to streamline the processing of small export loans by allowing a lender to use its own documents based on its use of established and proven credit review and analysis procedures for loans of similar type and size. Eligibility for the program requires the applicant to demonstrate that loan proceeds will enable their company to increase an existing export market or enter a new export market. Also, applicants must have been in operation as a business for at least 12 months. For more information, contact: SBA, (202) 205-7261; http://www.sba.gov
The Department of Economic Development can help local businesses access a variety of resources that can provide assistance in obtaining governmental and other contracts including Government contracts for the procurement of food products. These resources include:
Suffolk County Department of Public Works -- RFP's are published on the County website.
Click here to link directly to the purchasing page. Companies wishing to be added to the mailing list for bid information can call (631) 853-3908. Bids are published in the Smithtown News, Smithtown Messenger, BID Reporter, the Dodge Reports, Brown's Letters, Construction Data News, and Construction Information Systems. Further information can be obtained by contacting Suffolk County Department of Public Works, 360 Yaphank Ave., Yaphank, NY 11980-0059 Phone (631) 852-5204 Fax (631) 852-5221.
Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) -- Administered through the Long Island Development Corporation (LDIC), http://www.lidc.org, the center provides free counseling to small businesses to obtain and perform on government and other contracts. PTAC will search for contracts, help companies fill out bids, obtain technical documents, review pre-award surveys, act as advocate with the buying office, help with performance and payment issues, and establish companies on the electronic data interchange for bidding.
HUB Zone
Certain geographic areas have been designated by the Federal Government as industrialized business zones. These areas can receive special preferences for contracts. Go to: www.sba.gov/hubzone for more information
Federal Procurement Assistance can be obtained at:FedBizOpps https://www.fbo.gov/ - has been designated as the Government wide Point of Entry. It is where procurement opportunities exceeding $25,000 are posted by FEDERAL government agencies.
You Can search FedBizOpps yourself and do research either by solicitation number, date, procurement classification code, and agency to get information on active or archived bids. This is a great way to research marketing information on similar procurements.
Job Creation and Training Assistance
Jobs Now Program - New York State offers many economic incentives for developing new jobs. For a description of the various state programs available, go to: http://www.semi-ny.com/financial/jobsnow.cfm
New York State Health Insurance Partnership Program - This program makes it easier to provide health insurance benefits to employees by providing financial assistance to purchase health insurance through the Small Business Health Insurance Partnership Program, which will pay up to 45 percent of the cost of health insurance for employers with fewer than 50 employees. For more information, call The New York State Department of Health at 1-800-836-5689.
Some businesses require specific New York State Permits. (The Governor's Office of Regulatory Reform defines a permit as any required license, registration or similar form of authorization required by New York State.) Examples of businesses that require a permit include auto repair shops, beauty shops, food establishments, real estate brokers, and day care centers. For assistance in identifying New York state permits, contact:
New York State
Governor's Office of Regulatory Reform
Governor Alfred E. Smith Office Building
P.O. Box 7027, 17th Floor
Albany, NY 12225
(518) 474-8275 or toll-free 1 (800) 342-3464
website: www.nys-permits.org.
New York State Department of Health has a listing of State permits.
Suffolk County Licenses or Permits
For sanitary requirements for operation of food stores, food storage warehouses, meat or poultry establishments, food serving or vending businesses, mobile food vehicles, and frozen dessert establishments, contact:
Suffolk County Department of Health Services Food Control Unit
496 Smithtown By-Pass
Smithtown, NY 11787
For businesses in Western Suffolk, call: (631) 854-0410 or (631)854-0411.
For businesses in Brookhaven Town and Eastern Suffolk County, call: (631) 852-2068.
The Grow NY Enterprise Program is a joint initiative of the Governor's Office for Small Cities (GOSC), Empire State Development Corporation (ESDC) and the Department of Agriculture and Markets (NYSDAM), which dedicates $3 million to increasing the demand for and expanding the use of New York's agriculture and forest products. The primary objective of the program is to provide funds to local governments who in turn use the dollars to assist qualifying businesses who undertake activities resulting in the creation or retention of job opportunities for low- and moderate-income persons.
Eligible Applicants: Cities, towns and villages under 50,000 - click here for list of eligible Suffolk County towns and villages.
Eligible Businesses: Emerging or expanding businesses that are focused on producing, processing, marketing or expanding New York produced agricultural products are eligible.
U.S. Department of Agriculture Commodity Marketing Assistance Loans -Provides loans to farmers in marketing their commodity crops. Click here for more information.
New York State Pride Program - The Agriculture and Markets Law authorizes the Commissioner of the New York State Department of Agricultural Markets to develop, coordinate, and conduct programs for advertising, publicity, and general promotion of agricultural and food products grown, processed, packed or otherwise made within the State and to charge fees for promotional materials used in such programs. The Pride of New York Program was developed for the promotion of agricultural and food products grown or processed (by manufacturing, caning, preserving, freezing, drying, dehydrating, juicing, pickling, baking, brining, bottling, pressing, heating or cooking), within New York State. The Pride of New York logo may be used on labels and other promotional materials. It may also be used in conjunction with a private logo or mark, provided such use is not misleading and does not detract from the Pride of New York logo or program.
General Information on the Federal Government
U.S. Department of Agriculture
www.usda.gov
U.S. General Services Administration
Business Service Center
26 Federal Plaza
New York, NY 10278
(212) 264-1234
http://www.gsa.gov/portal/category/100000
Small Business Administration
Government Contract Division
26 Federal Plaza, Room 3100
New York, NY 10278
(212) 264-7756
http://www.sba.gov/
Defense Contract Management Area Operations (DCMAO)
Small Business Office
605 Stewart Avenue
Garden City, NY 11530
(516) 228-5722
The department of economic development can help you to access a number of programs to help you reduce the cost of using energy and transporting products. Among the available programs:
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LIPA Business Development Rate Program -- Offers utility rate incentives to eligible new and expanding commercial and industrial businesses (non-retail).
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LIPA clean energy incentives -- Provides rebates to business / industrial customers who install energy efficient technologies as part of their retrofit or new construction projects.
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LIPA Commercial Industrial Audit Program-- Provides energy management consultation free of charge to commercial, industrial, government, and not-for-profit LIPA customers. These analyses consist of on-site audits of a customer facility and include recommendations for improving energy-efficiency.
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NationalGrid Programs -- The utility offers an area development fund for start up and expanding businesses within their service territory, and a facade improvement grant program. For more information, call (631) 545-3873 or go to http://www.nationalgridus.com/
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Bus Tax Program -- Suffolk County sponsors a pre-paid bus tax program that employers may participate in. This program allows employees to set aside pre-tax income, up to $65 per month, to pay for transit. Call
(631) 852-4869 to learn more.
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Efforts are being made by the county and state to coordinate innovative bus and ride-share programs. For more information, call Long Island Transportation Management, Inc., (631) 737-CARS. For information on various transportation programs access the following websites:
LONG ISLAND RAILROAD (LIRR) - www.mta.nyc.ny.us/lirr
SUFFOLK COUNTY BUS SCHEDULES - Click here
FRANCIS S. GABRESKI AIRPORT - Click here
LONG ISLAND MCARTHUR AIRPORT - Click here
HAMPTON JITNEY - http://reservations.hamptonjitney.com/
Click Here To View Chart
Farm Related Links
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National Agricultural Library - An overview of the holdings of the world's largest agricultural library, as well as details on how to borrow from them.
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National Agricultural Statistics Service- The site from the arm of the USDA who "conduct hundreds of surveys and prepare reports covering virtually every facet of U.S. agriculture."
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USDA Economic Research Service- Still another viable source relating to the economics and statistics of U.S. agriculture.
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http://insects.tamu.edu/- Farmers who want to know what insect is eating their crops can go to a site maintained by the Texas Department of Agriculture, which is expanding an online picture gallery to include up to 5,000 of the state's most common insects.
Click Here for information on farm stands on Long Island.
Click Here for information on Long Island Wineries.
AGRICULTURAL AND FARM LAND PROTECTION BOARD’S: AGRICULTURAL ECONOMIC MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE (AEC)
The present Agricultural Economic Management Committee was formed by the Agricultural and Farm Land Protection Board in of April 2001. The initiative to formally constitute the AEC was undertaken by the Agricultural and Farm Land Protection Board.
The AEC is charged with the responsibility of addressing economic issues that cut across the broad spectrum that comprises the farming interests of L.I., as well as, explore the challenges that are found in agriculture on Long Island.
For more information call (631)765-1237, or email the Agriculture Economic Committee at alanjleo@optonline.net if you have any suggestions, comments or questions regarding the Committee’s activities.
The subcommittee on Agribusiness, business, estate and real estate planning has developed the following recommendations for the AEC to consider and implement. The grounding element in this program is that careful, professional planning for success in each of these critical agribusiness areas will provide:
- a stronger agricultural economy
- enhanced regional agriculture
- a continuation of family businesses dedicated to agriculture
- a stronger community economy
- jobs
- preserve open space, as land is a key input needed by agriculture and profitable farms keep land in farming
- a desired rural component on Long Island
- enhance tourism
SUB COMMITTEE REPORT ON ENERGY
The Eastend of Long Island, Suffolk County, is the center of agricultural activity on Long Island. Suffolk County is the leading agricultural producing county, with cash receipts, of over $173,005,000, in New York Sate. Suffolk County is an integral economic component essential to the overall economic well being of not only Long Island, but also to the entire state. The continued economic health of agriculture is critical to the overall economic health of New York State, as well as, the northeast region of the United States.
Energy costs on Long Island continue to escalate much to the dismay of Long Island’s residential and commercial customers. Energy costs are the second largest variable, directly behind labor costs, which must be addressed by agricultural owner/operators in order to maintain and expand their businesses. There are presently bifurcated rates in place, split between Nassau and Suffolk County, as well as, court challenges establishing, eliminating, and initiating a trifurcated rate structure, or any combination thereof. These factors contribute to the overall climate of unease for all of Long Island’s residents. Particularly hard hit by these levels of uncertainty are energy dependent consumers, such as those that are found within the agricultural sector.
Energy costs for agricultural industries, once they escalate and reach a certain critical point, also directly affect the New York economy. Agriculture is a largely, energy-intensive industry. The very nature of their operations necessitates that farmers seek a balance between naturally occurring ambient light, moisture and heat. The cyclical nature of agricultural growing periods necessitates that electricity; heat and water must be available at very specific times to the grower. The consumption levels and efficiency of their energy delivery systems directly influence farm operating costs, farm survivability, and their ability to prosper. Thus, opportunities to lower agricultural energy costs and improve the mix of energy resources that they utilize would lead to a direct improvement in their level of profitability.
In the economic climate within which we are presently operating, it is crucial to develop methodologies and techniques that are low in upfront costs and perceived risk, in order to implement and provide growers with an short payback in lower energy consumption levels. More efficient proposals and technologies that have a longer payback period are often ignored in favor of the ‘quick fix’. The agricultural community tends to concentrate their energy and money on accepted and previously proven technologies. They are not going to embrace technologies, recommendations, or concepts that would be perceived by them to put their livelihood at risk. This is justifiably so, but it does present structural difficulties in putting forth innovative concepts, into real world situations for testing and evaluation. Thus, the shorter the payback period for the growers, the simpler the concept, thus less risk involved, the more likely these energy solutions will be implemented. It is demonstrable that conservation methodologies have a payback period that is approximately one year, with other conservation methods often exceeding three to four years, an eternity for the grower in a highly competitive market. This leads to the conclusion that alternative energy resources, their methodologies and the options that they provide, used in combination with more efficient traditional energy resources must be explored in order to maintain the vitality and profitability of the industry.
The reduction of energy loads and diversification of energy resources would benefit the public by reducing nonpoint source pollution, as well as, contribute to the reduction of "greenhouse gas" emissions being exhausted into the atmosphere. In addition to grower and industry opportunities for lowering their operating costs and increasing the efficiency of their operating facilities, they would receive an unintended benefit. This spillover benefit would be in the area of positive public relations and press.
The Energy Subcommittee has initiated a number of proactive actions oriented to the exploration of energy options on the Eastend. It has met with various stakeholders and industry spokespersons in order to evaluate the needs of the Ag community. It has developed a healthy working relationship with a renewable energy organization, Clean Energy International, Inc. (CEI). It has worked on and filed a number of grant applications (4) in conjunction with CEI and the Suffolk County Soil and Water Conservation District, totaling $297,350. These grant applications were the result of a New York State Energy and Technology Development Agency (NYSERDA) request for proposals under PON: 668-01, Innovations in Agriculture. NYSERDA had 80 applications for projects as a result of their request for proposals. NYSERDA was quite pleased that it received four applications from Long Island, a first for Long Island. These grants will be awarded at the end of April and or sometime in the beginning of May. Normally NYSERDA grants are not eligible for any Long Island concerns or industry because of LIPA imposed constraints. These restrictive constraints, fortunately, are not applicable to agricultural issues and requests for proposals published by the agency. Energy efficiencies for individual organizations are conservatively estimated to result in between 12-20% energy savings, if the various proposals funded by NYSERDA, are adopted for use by the Commercial Greenhouses and Wineries involved in the study.
The four grants are distributed in the following manner:
1. $147,350 submitted by the
Suffolk County Soil and Water Conservation District. This grant contains the following elements:
- Seek to become qualified energy (NYSERDA/LIPA) auditors for the commercial greenhouse and winery industries;
- Conduct public outreach via conferences, as well as, satellite video conferences on energy auditing and related issues;
- Publish results in the Agricultural News and other media outlets;
- Participate in the Suffolk County Agricultural Forum and other special events initiated by the agricultural community on Long Island, as well as, events that we are invited to throughout New York State;
- Present data to the New York Sate Soil and Conservation Committee for distribution to all 57 of New York's Conservation districts. Develop a Resource guide that will list resources that the owners/operators can call upon to seek answers to questions concerning energy utilization and modification;
- Developed a website, with links to various agencies and sources, that would be a resource available for the New York agricultural community;
- Publish, for public consumption, a handbook oriented to the target audience that is easily understood. It would contain recommendations that industry personnel could place into immediate use with little training and minimal cost.
2. CEI, Inc. $50,000 to conduct a feasibility study for the development and evaluation of renewable energy solutions for the Wine industry;
3. CEI, Inc. $50,000 to conduct a feasibility study for the of development and evaluation of renewable energy solutions for the Commercial Greenhouse Industry;
4. CEI, Inc. $50,000 to conduct a feasibility study for the viability of developing utility scale renewable energy resources for the Eastend of Long Island.
It is worth noting that the two industries that are highlighted in the Suffolk County Soil and Water Conservation District and CEI proposals do not presently have any energy resource auditing procedures or protocols in place for their industries. Thus, Suffolk County Soil and Water Conservation District and CEI have focused their primary efforts on the wine and commercial greenhouse industries. Commercial/traditional farms already have NYSERDA energy auditing procedures presently available and in place on Long Island, as well as, throughout New York State.
The following is an abbreviated list of possible new projects that the Energy Subcommittee will be looking to evaluate for AEC and hence, forward to the full Agricultural and Farm Land Protection Board for their perusal:
- The creation of an Energy Cooperative, which would combine the best of both traditional and renewable energy resources. This would include ongoing discussions with LIPA, the Greenport Electrical Authority and CEI, Inc., as well as, other renewable energy organizations;
- Continue to be active participants in discussions and conferences concerning energy uses, both in the traditional and renewable resource areas;
- Continue to seek funding for traditional and renewable energy programs and those programs oriented to agricultural energy efficiencies.
The Energy Subcommittee looks forward to meeting the future challenges outlined above and looks forward to another exciting year of exploration.
Respectfully submitted:
Nate Corwin
Karen Lee
George Proios
Bob Van Bourgondien
Harold Watts
Alan Leo
What is the SFMNP?
A new program in which grants are awarded to States to provide low-income seniors with coupons that can be exchanged for eligible foods at farmers' markets, roadside stands, and community support agriculture programs.
What is the purpose of SFMNP?
The purposes:
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Provide fresh, nutritious, unprepared, locally grown fruits, vegetables, and herbs from farmers' markets.
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Increase domestic consumption of agricultural commodities.
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Develop or aid in the development of new and additional farmers' markets, roadside stands, and community support agriculture programs.
Who is eligible for the SFMNP benefits?
Low income seniors, generally defined as individuals who are at least 60 years old and who have household incomes of not more that 185% of the federal poverty income guidelines are the targeted recipients.
The Suffolk County Office for the Aging receives 1,950 coupon books for this program. These books are distributed through the County supported distribution sites. Contact the County (631) 853-8233 or your local town Senior Citizen Office for more information.
This program normally runs from June through Thanksgiving of each year.