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United States <br />[~epartment el <br />Agriculture <br /> <br />Soil <br />Conserva[Jon <br />Service <br /> <br />What is RC&D? <br /> <br />RC&D Fact Sheet <br /> <br />United States Department of Agriculture's Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) <br />program helps community leaders develop rural economies by improving and conserving local <br />natural resources. A USDA coordinator assists each RC&D area council, which identifies the <br />area's problems and then sets its own goals for finding and carrying out solutions to these <br />problems. Nationwide, 246 RC&D areas have been authorized by the Secretary of Agriculture. <br />These encompass 55 percent of the United States--about 2 billion acres. Established by thc <br />Fcod and Agriculture Act of 1962. RC&D began in 1964. <br /> <br />How does RCBd:) help? <br /> <br />About 1,400 projects are undertaken by RC&D councils each year. These include encouraging <br />investments in local communities, setting up marketing cooperatives, and promoting tourism. <br />One RC&D area council created a sizable, dependable reservoir to provide recreation for the <br />community and to help stabilize the area's economy. Another RC&D council developed a <br />wood products industry from an abundance of forest land in the area. Because of their exten- <br />sive efforts, RC&D councils succeed in generating many jobs for local citizens as well as hn- <br />proving communities. Each year they produce about 17,000 permanent jobs: save another <br />6,000jobs; and create about 14,000 temporary jobs. <br /> <br />How does RC&D <br />operate? <br /> <br />Each RC&D area, which usually consists of several counties, has a council composed of local <br />citizens who serve on a voluntary basis. Council members commonly include local entrepre- <br />neurs, teachers, farmers, ranchers, elected officials and others who want to solve local prob- <br />lems. These individuals initiate and direct the process of planning RC&D projects, develop and <br />implement the area plans, and then act to maintain plans. Under leadership of USDA's Soil <br />Conservation Service, RC&D councils receive technical assistance and may be able to qualify <br />for financial assistance--up to 25 percent of needed funds or a maximum of S50,000--as author- <br />ized by the Secretary of Agriculture. Council members have authority to seek additional <br />assistance from sources most qualified to provide the needed help. Technical assistance may <br />come from USDA agencies, state or local governments, local conservation districts, or private <br />industry. Financial assistance may come from loans, grants, cost-sharing arrangements, or <br />private donations. <br /> <br />Program <br />Accomplishments <br /> <br />During the 30-year span of the program, about 26,000 projects have been completed by RC&D <br />councils. About 3,000 of these activities received financial assistance from USDA. All of the <br />accomplishments involve land conservation, water management, community developm em. or <br />environmental enhancement. Forestry, water quality and quantity, information and education, <br />and recreation and tourism are other priorities of RC&D. Annual volunteer contributions in <br />time, cash, materials, and grants are estimated at more than $30 million. <br /> <br />Authority <br /> <br />RC&D was reauthorized by the Food and Agriculture Act of 1981. The act empowers USDA <br />to provide technical and financial assistance to state and local units of government and non- <br />profit organizations in rural areas which need help in conserving natural resources and solving <br />local problems. <br /> <br />All USDA programs and services are available without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, <br />marital status, handicap, or national origin. <br /> <br />May 1993 <br /> <br /> <br />