Accomplishments

Resource Conservation & Development Councils
FY 2010 Accomplishments

Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) Councils are the leadership entities associated with RC&D areas. RC&D Councils help plan and carry out activities that increase conservation of natural resources, support economic development, and enhance the environment and standard of living in local communities. RC&D Councils are non-profit entities that work in partnership with the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service through a federal coordinator.

RC&D Council members are volunteers and include local, civic, appointed, and elected officials. Because RC&D areas are locally organized, sponsored, and led, the program provides an ideal way for residents to join together and decide how to improve life in their communities. RC&D Councils help identify and address these unmet needs. Currently, 375 RC&D Councils serve 180 million people in 2,693 counties in all 50 states, the Caribbean, and the Pacific Islands Area.

A few of the many RC&D accomplishments in FY2010:

  • 808 new businesses were created;
  • 6,199 businesses were expanded or retained;
  • 396 businesses were financially assisted with funds totaling $10.9 million;
  • 5,929 jobs were created and 6,398 retained;
  • Improvements were made on 2,800,000 acres of wildlife habitat, 169,000 acres of lakes and other water bodies, and 7,182 miles of streams;
  • 1,140,000 people acquired new knowledge or skills;
  • 2,200,000 economically or socially disadvantaged people were helped nationwide;
  • Formation of 135 cooperatives was facilitated;
  • $351.1 million in external grant funds was obtained for projects;
  • Agri-tourism activities were developed on 1,182 farm or ranch operations;
  • 849 farms or ranches were assisted through direct farm-to-consumer marketing – community supported agriculture groups, restaurants, stores, or farmers markets;
  • 6,276 instances of Tribal Nations served;
  • Over 2,100,000 acres of agricultural land were preserved or protected;
  • Water quality projects at 1,649 animal agricultural operations were assisted;
  • Construction or rehabilitation of 413 flood control structures;
  • Over 3,963 workshops, tours, and seminars were conducted on agriculture, aquaculture, forestry, and wildlife issues;
  • Over 4,837 training sessions on leadership development, grant writing, business development, non-profit management and environmental education were held; and
  • More than 1,000 natural resource related school curricula and programs were developed.

RC&D Councils in twenty states implemented renewable energy projects, including biofuels from soybeans, ethanol production from corn, and energy production from other biomass, solar, water, and wind sources.
More than 4,738 projects that focus on the goals of the RC&D program were completed in FY 2010. More than 7,472 projects will continue in FY 2011. Since 1964, RC&D Councils have completed over 100,338 projects.