County Calls for Installment Purchase Program Applications

September 1 Deadline Set

FREDERICK, MD - The Frederick County Agricultural Land Preservation Program is now accepting applications for the Installment Purchase Program (IPP) easement program. The IPP is the County's farmland preservation program, which purchases agricultural preservation easements that forever restrict development on prime farmland and woodland.

"Our goal is to leave a legacy of agriculture for future generations, and to do that we must preserve our best farmland," County Executive Jan Gardner said. "We have significantly accelerated our preservation efforts, adding thousands of acres in the past two years. The Installment Purchase Program is an important tool to keep farming economically viable and to preserve Frederick County's rich agricultural history."

The Installment Purchase Program was established by the Board of County Commissioners of Frederick County in 2002. Through the use of Installment Purchase Agreements, the program pays the farmer tax-free interest over a 10- to 20-year term, with a balloon lump sum principal payment at the end of the term. Since the IPP began in 2002, it has preserved more than 21,000 acres of farmland in Frederick County. IPP is one of several agricultural preservation programs managed by the Frederick County Division of Planning and Permitting. Together, the programs have preserved over 70,000 acres of farmland, of which 68,275 acres have been permanently preserved.

Anyone interested in applying for the IPP should contact Land Preservation Planner II Shannon O'Neil no later than Thursday, September 1, by calling 301-600-1411 or via e-mail at [email protected].

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