Last week, the National Association of Conservation Districts awarded grants to support six county conservation districts in Pennsylvania.

Urban Agriculture

The Berks County Conservation District received an Urban Agriculture Conservation Grant to support the Cultivating Communities initiative developed by the City of Readings Victory Garden Task Force to address soil health, stormwater runoff and nonpoint source pollution, climate change resiliency and food security within environmental justice communities.

“The Urban Agriculture Conservation Grants provide opportunities for conservation districts to continue their great work in new and different ways,” NACD President Michael Crowder said. “The projects we’re announcing today will help conservation districts reach new audiences and build new programs to provide technical assistance in a variety of community-oriented settings.”

NACD and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) first partnered through the Urban Agriculture Conservation Grant Initiative in 2016 to support technical assistance activities related to community-oriented agricultural programs.

Including this announcement, NACD and NRCS have awarded more than $5.6 million in funding for 122 grants in 35 states.

Click Here for the complete announcement.

Technical Assistance Grants

NACD announced the award of $13 million in new technical assistance grants that will continue conservation assistance to communities in over 400 conservation districts in 48 states and territories.

In Pennsylvania, five county conservation districts received grants-- Bucks, Jefferson, Lehigh, Northampton and Tioga counties

“These grants will help conservation districts serve clients in high priority and heavy workload areas across the country,” NACD President Michael Crowder said.

“Through the TA Grants program, NACD and NRCS have been able to secure thousands of conservation plans and implement conservation practices,” Crowder said. “Conservation plans are the backbone of the locally-led conservation delivery system, helping landowners to address the natural resource needs of their operations and bettering our communities

Click Here for the complete announcement.

For more information on programs, initiatives, upcoming events and more, visit the National Association of Conservation Districts website.

[Posted: April 2, 2021]

4/5/2021