Cabarrus County Receives Local Government Engagement Award

April 26, 2010 – N.C. State University recently recognized Cabarrus County government for its engagement with the N.C. Cooperative Extension – Cabarrus Center. Cabarrus County was presented the Local Government Engagement Award by N.C. State University’s Office of Extension, Engagement and Economic Development. This award is presented each year to a local government that partners with the University to model mutually beneficial relationships.

The award is attributed to the partnership between Cabarrus County and NC Cooperative Extension – Cabarrus Center in the development of the Elma C. Lomax Incubator Farm Park off Atando Road in Concord. The Elma C. Lomax Incubator Farm supports local farming while encouraging a new generation of farmers to ensure quality local food sources remain available in Cabarrus County.

This incubator farm – in its second year of operation – works much like a business incubator. Individuals interested in starting a business as a farmer can enroll in the program which provides classroom instruction on the business of farming in Cabarrus County as well as hands–on experience on the farm. Participants in the program develop and manage their own agriculture business while receiving guidance from seasoned farmers.