CONTACT: Sara Kangas, NACD Director of Communications
(202) 547-6223; sara-kangas[at]nacdnet.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 10, 2020

NACD ANNOUNCES URBAN
CONSERVATION GRANTS FOR
21 CONSERVATION DISTRICTS

LAS VEGAS – Today, the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) announced $1 million in urban agriculture conservation funding for 21 conservation districts across 13 states.

NACD and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) first partnered through the Urban Agriculture Conservation Grant Initiative in 2016 to support technical assistance activities in developed or developing areas.

NACD and NRCS have issued grants in 2016, 2017 and 2019, and including today’s announcement, have awarded more than $5 million in funding for 102 grants across 34 states. This round of funding marks the first year where previous grant recipients were eligible to apply for funding for new projects.

“Conservation districts are at the forefront of urban natural resources projects, educating our communities and helping to expand their access to clean water and fresh produce,” NACD President Tim Palmer said. “The projects we’re announcing today will help conservation districts continue to expand their urban impact, growing their technical capacity at the same time as they grow their reach.”

In New York, the Warren County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) will partner with Warrensburg Community Gardens to construct raised beds in order to demonstrate soil health best management practices (BMPs) and will host workshops on soil health BMPs, including no-till, cover crops, mulching and nutrient management.

The Genesee Conservation District in Flint, Michigan will operate a market garden, convene local food system partners, repurpose vacant lots, develop community forestry and conservation outreach materials, and maintain their Urbanwood tree reutilization program. Through its award, the Pierce Conservation District in Washington State will create an urban agriculture site and traditional medicine garden. This will create access to healthy food in a neighborhood with limited options, as well as access to traditional medicines and knowledge about using these plants. To view the full list of grant recipients and project descriptions, please visit NACD’s 2020 Urban Agriculture Conservation Grant recipients webpage.

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About the National Association of Conservation Districts:

The National Association of Conservation Districts is the nonprofit organization that represents the nation’s 3,000 conservation districts, their state and territory associations and the 17,000 men and women who serve on their governing boards. For more than 70 years, local conservation districts have worked with cooperating landowners and managers of private working lands to help them plan and apply effective conservation practices. For more information about NACD, visit: www.nacdnet.org.