The Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy is getting $600,000
ACME -- A land grant will help preserve agricultural jobs in Grand Traverse County's Acme Township.
The Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy will be getting $600,000 from the Department of Agriculture to preserve an extra 392 acres of land in northern Acme. The grant will add to the 10,000 acre area.
The preserved farmland, conservancy nature preserve and agricultural preservation zones cover nearly 5,000 acres.
Parts of the area grow cherries, apples and sunflowers. Acme Township Supervisor Wayne Kladder says more money means more land to preserve, and more land means job security for area fruit plants like Shoreline, that can use a larger area to grow their cherries.
"Without the agricultural land to produce all of the crops some of these plants would have to close down so part of the program here is to preserve enough land to keep these plants running and to provide jobs for the area," said Kladder.
Kladder says the soil in this specific area is great for growers, but also for builders. This grant will help keep builders away leaving the area preserved for farmers.
He says 392 acres is just the beginning. Long-term, they hope to preserve as much land as they can.
The grant will be awarded at a ceremony in Acme on Friday.
