Resource Conservation and Development

Making Things Happen for Rural America
return to prospectus menu


What is RC&D?

The Resource Conservation and Development Program (RC&D) gets people involved to identify and solve human, economic, and environmental problems in their communities. RC&D addresses local problems by obtaining assistance from the private sector, corporations, foundations, and all levels of government.

What does RC&D do?

Land Conservation – protects the resource base and finds the best ways to use it. Includes projects such as mine reclamation, controlling soil erosion and weeds.
Water management – protects and enhances groundwater supplies; and improves water quality, agricultural water management, and flood control.
Community Development – establishes and improves community services, facilities, and infrastructure. Prepares feasibility studies; creates or improves recreational areas; and develops, improves, and promotes historic sites and local attractions. Encourages the best use of forest lands and resources; and creates and expands forest-related industries. Focuses on expanding markets and creating jobs.
Environmental Enhancement Projects – conserving energy; creating and improving fish and wildlife habitat; developing and improving wetland habitat; and safely using waste. How does RC&D do this?

RC&D brings people together. Local RC&D councils are formed to determine problems in their areas, identify priorities, and set goals to achieve them.

Who is involved in RC&D?

Coordination and cooperation are key to RC&D. RC&D council members represent sponsoring organizations, which include county governments, soil and water conservation districts, towns, water districts, and other nonprofit groups. More than 6,000 council members and 9,000 committee members volunteer their time to "Make Things Happen!"

How does RC&D work?

RC&D is not an agency. It is a council of local citizens that represent farmers, businesses, and units of government to coordinate economic development projects in primarily rural areas.

RC&D areas are multi-county in scope and led by a citizens group called a council, board of directors, or executive committee. Council members represent official sponsoring organizations; however, they can develop task forces and working groups composed of technical specialists and others interested in individual projects.

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), an agency known for its partnership with local communities, administers the program for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. NRCS provides a coordinator, and gives other support for each RC&D area. But it is the local council or directors that make each RC&D area unique.

What has RC&D accomplished?

Since the RC&D program began over 30 years ago, councils have raised almost $10 billion in federal and non-federal money to support nearly 36,000 projects. Volunteer contributions in time, cash, materials, and grants are estimated at more than $45 million annually.

How is RC&D funded?

Most councils are nonprofit corporations that have authority to seek help from sources that are qualified to provide assistance. This help may be technical assistance from USDA agencies, state or local governments, local conservation districts, or private industry. It may be financial assistance in the form of donations, loans, grants, or cost-sharing arrangement projects.
 


For more information, contact YOUR RC&D

South Jersey Resource Conservation and Development Council, Inc
251 Bellevue Ave.
Hammonton, NJ 08037
609-561-3223
http://www.sjrcd.org

return to prospectus menu