Cumberland County is rolling out a new Agricultural Business Assistance Program aimed at helping local farmers and producers recover from recent economic strain—and the county is inviting eligible business owners to a public training session in January to learn how to apply.
The program is funded through American Rescue Plan (ARP) “freed‑up capacity” dollars, a portion of federal COVID‑19 relief money that local governments were allowed to redirect toward community needs once their revenue losses were calculated. In practice, that means the county can use the funds to support economic recovery efforts.
Program offers up to $50,000 for eligible farm businesses
Through the new initiative, eligible for‑profit agricultural businesses can apply for up to $50,000 in financial assistance. The funding is designed to offset economic hardship tied to weather‑related disasters or declining commodity prices—all challenges that have hit Cumberland County producers in recent years.
The program focuses specifically on payroll reimbursement for businesses that employ low‑ to moderate‑income workers, defined as full‑time positions earning $44,250 or less per year. Reimbursable payroll expenses include wages, employee benefits, and payroll taxes.
County to host January 15 “Go Live Session”
To help business owners navigate the application process, the county will host a Go Live Session where staff will walk attendees through the online funding portal and answer questions in real time.
Event Details
- Who: Eligible agricultural business owners
- What: Agricultural Business Assistance Program Go Live Session
- When: Thursday, January 15, 2026, 9–11 a.m.
- Where: Cumberland County Cooperative Extension Agriculture Center, 301 E. Mountain Drive, Fayetteville
Attendees are encouraged to bring a laptop so they can begin their application during the session. Technology support staff will be on site to help troubleshoot issues with the portal.
County officials say attendance is strongly encouraged, as all applications must be submitted online.
Government reporter Rachel Heimann Mercader can be reached at rheimann@cityviewnc.com or 910-988-8045.
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