NACD: Technical Assistance Grants

The NACD Technical Assistance Grants program, in partnership with NRCS, has been enhancing conservation district support since 2018. By funding staff hires, it aims to improve service for agricultural producers and address conservation workload challenges. The initiative focuses on outreach, education, and civic engagement to empower local communities, promote sustainability, and support historically underserved producers in implementing conservation practices, thereby fostering both individual and community resilience.

Since 2018, NACD and NRCS, through a series of cooperative agreements, have partnered to provide funding to enhance conservation district technical assistance across the nation. The NACD Technical Assistance grant program awards funds to conservation districts to hire staff where additional capacity is needed to improve customer service to producers and reduce workload pressure. To ensure the funds are directed to areas where they will have the highest impact, NACD works with state and territory conservation partnerships to identify the highest priority locations.
Effective outreach, conservation education, technical assistance, and land stewardship have never been more important. Through this program, conservation districts, their respective state/territory associations and agencies, Resource Conservation & Development Councils, and Tribal organizations help provide the outreach, education, mentoring, and technical assistance that helps farmers, ranchers, and forest stewards make informed decisions on their lands to enhance its sustainability.
NACD and NRCS share the goals of impacting individual producers and communities, as well as increasing civic engagement to strengthen the locally led conservation delivery system.
Individual Impacts
Increase the number of producers who implement conservation plans and practices Address high priority increasing conservation workloads across the country Support and facilitate conservation delivery and customer service Increasing participation in NRCS programs Acknowledge and address historical barriers with the goals of:Introducing new and historically underserved producers to conservation
Community Impacts
Improve economic and environmental resilience in rural and urban communitiesAddress environmental justice issues, such as food security/sovereignty and access, heat equity, clean water initiatives, and access to outdoor recreationDevelop conservationists and leaders within the communities for long-term sustainment of programs and investmentsSupport and advance Tribal conservation goals
Civic Engagement
Increase or create new opportunities for civic engagement in conservation (e.g., Local Working Groups, Conservation District Boards)Increase awareness of the locally led conservation system and how producers’ voices can impact community outcomes Develop and implement inclusive board succession plans/processes that advance DEIJA and ensure locally led conservation remains a core community valueImprove approaches to outreach and technical assistance