RALEIGH – AgCarolina Financial is accepting grant applications through Friday for programs that benefit farmers and rural residents in Nash, Edgecombe and the other 32 counties it serves.

Grants to groups for up to $5,000 are available through AgCarolina’s corporate-giving program, The Fund for Rural North Carolina. Funded programs must benefit one of four areas: education, environment, technology and quality of rural life.

Proposals will be reviewed and grants awarded as early as possible after the deadline. Individuals are not eligible for the grants.

For grant rules and applications, go to its website, agcarolina.com/involvement.htm.

AgCarolina Financial is a farmer-owned financial cooperative with headquarters in Raleigh. It has more than $1.2 billion in loans and commitments outstanding to about 3,000 N.C. farmers. It offers loans to finance land, homes, farm buildings, operating expenses, livestock and equipment. It also officers credit life and crop insurance and appraisal services.