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RC&D

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Historical Sketch of RC&DThe Resource Conservation and Development Program (RC&D) was Established in 1964 by the Food and Agricultural Act of 1962.

Historical Sketch of RC&DThe program was re-authorized by the Food and Agricultural Act of 1981. The Act empowers the United States Department of Agriculture to provide technical and financial assistance to state and local units of government and nonprofit organizations in rural areas, which need help in conserving natural resources and solving local problems.

What is RC&D?The RC&D program is a unique blend of private enterprise and creative federalism. Program activities are initiated and directed at the local level by volunteers.

What is RC&D?It is a USDA interagency program that encourages the blending of natural resource use with local economic and social values.

What is RC&D?Its customers have a major voice in how the program activities are carried out in their respective communities. Economic and sociological rationales have been considered in selection of RC&D areas, and their continued funding and support.

What is RC&D?The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) facilitates and administers the RC&D program on authority of Congress. The Resource Conservation and Development program is based on a number of concepts that make it a truly unique government program.

What is RC&D?

These concepts include:

• The value of public/private partnerships in making the best use of limited resources.

• The value of grassroots involvement in making decisions about local areas.

• Bringing USDA agencies together to focus on the same problems and opportunities.

What is RC&D?

These concepts include:

• Leveraging limited federal dollars with private funds to accomplish goals.

• Working toward the goal of community sustainability.

• Achieving a balance between rural economic development and natural resource protection.

What does the RC&D do?

The RC&D programs help community leaders develop rural economies by improving and conserving local natural resources.

How does the RC&D operate?

Each RC&D area, which usually consists of several counties, has a council composed of local citizens who serve on a voluntary basis.

How does the RC&D operate?

Council members commonly include elected officials, SWCD directors, county board members, local entrepreneurs, teachers, farmers, ranchers, and others who want to solve local problems.

How does the RC&D operate?

These individuals initiate and direct the process of planning RC&D projects, develop and implement area plans, and then act to maintain plans.

How does the RC&D operate?

Technical assistance may come from other USDA agencies, state or local governments, local conservation districts, or private industry.

How does the RC&D operate?

Financial assistance may come from loans, grants, cost-share agreements, or private donations, private foundations, and other state and federal agencies.

How does RC&D Help?

About 1,800 projects are undertaken nationally by RC&D councils each year. Current program objectives focus on:

• Improvement of quality of life achieved through natural resource conservation and community development to lead to sustainable communities

• Prudent use (development), management, and conservation of natural resources mor

e

How does RC&D Help?

Current program objectives focus on:

• Social, economic, and environmental improvement

• Local leadership providing program decision making

• Strengthening local citizens’ abilities to use available sources of assistance through USDA agency partnerships

How does RC&D Help?

Because councils are composed of local leaders who address local issues, they are able to make things happen in a quick and timely manner.

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RC&D Councils are organized as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporations and serve as a vital focus point for many local, state, and federal programs.

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The Secretary of Agriculture is responsible for authorizing areas using the USDA budget appropriation as the primary criteria to determine how many new areas will be accepted.

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Leadership for RC&D Councils stems from more than 24,000 volunteers and council members who provide grassroots leadership and solutions for their communities.

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Currently, RC&D Councils serve more than 13 million people in communities with populations of less than 2,500, but can potentially provide service and support for communities and cities of all sizes.

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Nationally, there are 368 RC&D areas. These areas cover approximately 79% of our nation’s land area and 77% of the nation’s population.

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By law, Congress only permits 450 RC&D Councils nationally – leaving only 82 areas to be established in the United States!

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Each year, RC&D Councils create thousands of new jobs and businesses throughout the country.

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RC&D Councils presently serve 85% of all the counties in the United States. (3,153 counties in the United States; 2,614 in RC&D Areas).

In Illinois, 58 of the 102 counties are served by RC&D Councils.

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The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service’s goal is to obtain nationwide coverage by Fiscal Year 2005.

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Currently, there are nine authorized RC&D Councils in Illinois and one RC&D Council seeking federal approval and authorization. All Illinois RC&D Council’s have carefully developed a broad network of partners.

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The average size of a RC&D Area is 7 counties. The Council with the most counties in Illinois is the Shawnee RC&D, Inc. which serves 16 counties in Southern Illinois. It is also the one of the first 10 Councils in the nation.

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in Illinois...In Illinois, the average annual cost for creating and supporting a RC&D Area is about $160,000. The amount provides a staff of two, a vehicle, and other related administrative support. Department funds, however, provide only $113,000 for each RC&D Area.

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A RC&D area is locally led by groups of nonprofit organizations, local, state, and federal agencies working together to identify natural resource problems or issues.

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These concerns are then incorporate into an application for submission to the Secretary of Agriculture for approval. State and federal legislative representatives play a major role in this process and the success of each proposal.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or a part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD).