Source: USDA, 1/14/15

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that 115 high-impact projects across all 50 states and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, including North Carolina, will receive more than $370 million in federal funding as part of the new Regional Conservation Partnership Program. In turn, these projects will leverage an estimated $400 million in partner contributions to improve the nation’s water quality, support wildlife habitat and enhance the environment.

“This is an entirely new approach to conservation efforts,” said Vilsack. “These partnerships empower communities to set priorities and lead the way on conservation efforts important for their region. They also encourage private sector investment so we can make an impact that’s well beyond what the Federal government could accomplish on its own. We’re giving private companies, local communities, and other non-government partners a way to invest in a new era in conservation that ultimately benefits us all. These efforts keep our land resilient and water clean, and promote economic growth in agriculture, construction, tourism, outdoor recreation, and other industries.”

This year’s project in North Carolina will accomplish a wide diversity of agricultural and natural resource goals that includes addressing water quality, quantity, soil erosion and at-risk species habitat.

RCPP competitively awards funds to conservation projects designed by local partners specifically for their region. Eligible partners include private companies, universities, non-profit organizations, local and tribal governments and others joining with agricultural and conservation organizations and producers to invest money, manpower and materials to their proposed initiatives. With participating partners investing along with the Department, USDA’s $1.2 billion in funding over the life of the five-year program can leverage an additional $1.2 billion from partners for a total of $2.4 billion for conservation.

“RCPP puts our partners in the driver’s seat,” said Tim Beard, USDA’S Natural Resources Conservation Service state conservationist in North Carolina. “Projects are led locally, and demonstrate the value of strong public-private partnerships that deliver solutions to tough natural resource challenges.”

In North Carolina, the project will involve the restoration, enhancement and stabilization of streams and wetlands that have been degraded by agricultural land use throughout the geographic region of 31 North Carolina counties that make up the existing Western North Carolina Stream Initiative.

More than 600 pre-proposals were submitted for RCPP in 2014. “With so many strong project proposals, the project selection process was extremely competitive. RCPP is a 5-year $1.2 billion USDA commitment; projects not selected in this first year may be eligible in subsequent years,” Beard said.

For more information on North Carolina RCPP projects, visit NRCS North Carolina’s webpage or view the full list of projects.
The next announcement of program funding for fiscal year 2016 will be made later in the year.

To learn about technical and financial assistance available through conservation programs, visit www.nrcs.usda.gov/GetStarted or local USDA service center.