News Release

USDA announces $260 million available for Regional Conservation Partnership Program with May 10 pre-proposals deadline

Contact:
Jerry Bynum, State Public Affairs Specialist
803-253-3045

Applications sought with a focus on environmental markets, conservation finance

COLUMBIA, S.C., Mar. 10, 2016– The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) announced the availability of up to $260 million for partner proposals through the innovative Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) with all pre-proposals due by May 10 to be considered.

The federal award, which applicants must be able to match with private or local funds, focuses on improving the nation's water quality, combat drought, enhance soil health, support wildlife habitat and protect agricultural viability.

“Across the country, locally-driven efforts are having a positive effect on conservation and production,” said Ann English, NRCS state conservationist in South Carolina. “RCPP serves as a valuable vehicle for matching federal investment and private capital to advance natural resource conservation and support agricultural production.”

Created by the 2014 Farm Bill, RCPP investments of nearly $600 million have already driven 199 partner-led projects, which includes funding of nearly $15 million for three projects in South Carolina. The program leverages local leadership to establish partnerships that can include private companies, local and tribal governments, universities, non-profits and other non-government partners to work with farmers, ranchers and forest landowners on landscape- and watershed-scale conservation solutions that work best for their region.

This will be the third round of funding through RCPP, helping USDA build on record enrollment in all voluntary conservation programs, with more than 500,000 producers participating to protect land and water on over 400 million acres nationwide.

South Carolina received funding during the last round of RCPP funding for the African American Forest Restoration and Retention project, which addresses degraded plant conditions and enhancement of wildlife habitat by supporting forest restoration on African-American-owned forestlands in high poverty regions of the Southeastern United States. In partnership with U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities, this $1.6 million RCPP project is a multi-state agreement that includes South Carolina (lead state), North Carolina and Alabama.

“We have seen success in South Carolina with RCPP,” said English. “For this new round, we hope to see even more applications that support the development of environmental markets and conservation finance projects.”

USDA is now accepting proposals for Fiscal Year 2017 RCPP funding. Pre-proposals are due May 10. For more information on applying, visit the RCPP website.

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