More than 88 acres of Cabarrus County farmland could be permanently protected through state grant

A $357,851 grant is the latest investment in local efforts to preserve working farms, protect open spaces and safeguard the county’s agricultural heritage.

A $357,851 state grant could help permanently protect more than 88 acres of Cabarrus County farmland from future development. Photo courtesy of Cabarrus County.

This story was adapted from a Cabarrus County news release.

More than 88 acres of farmland in Cabarrus County could soon be permanently protected from development, thanks to a new state grant aimed at preserving North Carolina’s rapidly disappearing agricultural lands.

The Cabarrus Soil and Water Conservation District has been awarded $357,851 to help preserve 88.3 acres at Helms Red Barn Farm through a conservation easement, an agreement that restricts future development while allowing land to remain in agricultural use.