on May 08, 2025

HR&A Advisors Supports Durham County’s Transformative Farm Campus

HR&A Advisors is proud to support the Durham County Farm Campus project, a transformative initiative that will empower new farmers, foster agricultural education, address climate challenges, and strengthen local food systems. This milestone marks a significant step forward for a project over a decade in the making.

 

“When we initiated this process, we were operating in a different environment than what we see today,” noted Derek Fleming, Senior Advisor at HR&A. “We have to think more creatively about funding sources.”

 

HR&A’s team worked closely with our client at Durham County Extension in completing the project study. Our analysis revealed strong potential for this innovative farm campus to serve as an agricultural incubator, providing land, equipment, and technical assistance to support emerging, historically marginalized farmers, while also offering post-harvest education facilities and community spaces. Despite funding challenges in the current landscape, we’ve identified several promising avenues, including potential collaborations with mission-driven foundations and philanthropic organizations.

 

Learn more about the project and its impact on Durham County’s agricultural future here.