North Central Region

Executive Board Member: Alex Schmidt, Iowa City, Iowa
Region Chair: Kris Swartz, Perrysburg, Ohio
Region Vice Chair: Kurt Beckstrom, Milaca, Minn.
National Conservation District Employees Association (NCDEA) 
National Association of State Conservation Agencies (NASCA) State Representatives

Staff: Beth Mason, Indianapolis, Ind.

Announcements:

• NACD will host a webinar on Thursday, April 14 at 2:00 pm Eastern to discuss the 2020 TA Grant application process and answer any questions. Preregistration is required and the number of attendees is limited. The webinar will be recorded if you are unable to attend. Please register at this link by April 13 as registration will close.
• NACD is pleased to announce a Request for Proposals (RFP) for projects that will increase the technical assistance capacity of conservation districts. There is a total of $6.5 million in technical assistance (TA) grant funding available.
• NACD Announces $8.5 million in technical assistance grants to conservation districts.
• Conservation Planning Boot Camp accepting applications from district employees (ongoing). Apply early to secure a spot!
• Boot Camp for the months of March, April and May 2020 have been canceled due to COVID-19

COVID-19 Information:

NACD and the North Central states are monitoring the COVID-19 crisis and have provided the following information on their websites. If you have further information to share with others, please feel free to contact Beth Mason at beth-mason[at]nacdnet.org.

• NACD
• Indiana Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts
• Michigan Association of Conservation Districts
• Minnesota Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts
• Wisconsin Land + Water

Upcoming Events:

• 2020 NACD Virtual Advocacy Day: March 25 (in place of the 2020 Spring Fly-In which is cancelled)
• 2020 NACD Stewardship Week: April 26 – May 3
• 2020 NACD Summer Board Meeting, Bismarck, North Dakota: July 18 – 21
• 2021 NACD North Central Region Winter Board Meeting, Columbus, Ohio: January 6 – 7
• 2021 NACD Annual Meeting, New Orleans, Louisiana: February 6 – 10

Region Specific Resources:

• NACD Investments in the North Central Region

Grants:

Technical Assistance (TA) Grants

• NACD will host a webinar on Thursday, April 14 at 2:00 pm Eastern to discuss the 2020 TA Grant application process and answer any questions. Preregistration is required and the number of attendees is limited. The webinar will be recorded if you are unable to attend. Please register at this link by April 13 as registration will close.
• NACD is pleased to announce a Request for Proposals (RFP) for projects that will increase the technical assistance capacity of conservation districts. There is a total of $6.5 million in technical assistance (TA) grant funding available.
• NACD Announces $8.5 million in technical assistance grants to conservation districts
• The next TA Grants round 1 (TA2018) and round 2 (TA2019) Quarterly Reports are due: April 20, 2020 for the reporting period of Jan. 1 – March. 31, 2020
• Have a TA Grant success story? Please share information with beth-mason[at]nacdnet.org

Urban Agriculture Conservation (UAC) Grant Initiative

• Congratulations to the North Central Region’s 2020 UAC grant recipients: Marion County SWCD in Indiana,  Genesee Conservation District in Michigan, Boone County SWCD in Missouri, Ashland SWCD in Ohio, and Cuyahoga SWCD in Ohio

Federal Policy and Partner Updates:

• NRCS seeks public comments on its interim rule for the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) until April 13, 2020
• NRCS seeks public comment on revised conservation practice standards that were recently reviewed as required by the 2018 Farm Bill to incorporate new technologies and additional flexibilities where possible until April 23, 2020
• The public comment periods for the 2018 Farm Bill’s changes to the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) and Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) have closed
• The period for public comments on NRCS’ interim rule for the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) has closed

Meeting Minutes:

• NACD 2020 Annual Meeting, Las Vegas, NV: February 9, 2020 (pending approval)
• NACD 2020 North Central Region Board Meeting, St. Charles, MO: January 6 – 7, 2020
• NACD 2019 Summer Regional Meeting, Santa Fe, NM: August 4, 2019
• NACD 2019 Annual Meeting, San Antonio, TX: February 3, 2019
• NACD 2019 North Central Region Board Meeting, Racine, WI: January 7 – 8, 2019

Where to Find Your Region Rep:

• NACD Summer Conservation Forum and Tour, Bismarck, ND: July 18 – 21, 2020
• Soil Health Institute 5th Annual Meeting, Des Moines, IA: July 29 – 31, 2020

Please send any resources, announcements, questions or comments to

Beth Mason, beth-mason[at]nacdnet.org

Click here for information about the North Central Region Meeting.

Click here to go back to the Conservation District Directory.