Alabama has  nine RC&D Councils and a State Association which basically serves as an  umbrella non-profit to assist all the individual Councils. Alabama RC&Ds  are very fortunate to receive significant funds from the State. We have faced  funding cuts but continue to receive support from the State.   Alabama  RC&D Councils depend on the leadership abilities and unique skills within the communities they serve. In essence, it is local people identifying their problems and opportunities and dealing with them, with a little help from the government and from others. That is why so many worthwhile projects have been undertaken and accomplished throughout the state. Another significant accomplishment of Alabama RC&Ds has been the rekindling of community spirit.

There are so many ways to describe RC&D; but in Alabama we believe it is basically people doing things for other people. The nine Alabama RC&D Councils and the State Association are proud of their accomplishments; but believe there is much more that can be done to make our communities a better place to live, work, and play. They continue to be dedicated to protecting, enhancing, and developing the state’s natural and human resources.

The Federal RC&D Program Changes
in 2011

The Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) Program was a nation-wide U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) program administered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to support  local non-profit RC&D Councils until 2011 when it was removed from the federal budget due to lack of funding. With the loss of Federal support, the State Association and individual Councils are now finding new partners to help fund community projects. Like always, the RC&D people plan to not only survive but develop an even stronger program for all of our Alabama communities.

The RC&D Program History

RC&D was initially started back in the 1960’s to address rural poverty and help rural communities generate sustainable natural resource-based economies. Although today many RC&D Areas are not rural and are not poor, the need for the RC&D approach is just as strong as ever. RC&D continues to accelerate the conservation, development and utilization of natural resources, improve the general level of economic activity, and to enhance the environment and standard of living in designated RC&D areas. Current program objectives focus on improvement of quality of life achieved through natural resources conservation, human capacity development, and community development which leads to sustainable communities, prudent use (development) and the management and conservation of natural resources.

RC&D areas were locally-sponsored areas designated by the Secretary of Agriculture for RC&D technical and financial assistance program funds. Local leaders in these areas met to determine local needs and objectives and submitted an application to the Secretory of Agriculture. Once approve the local RC&D Council was formed and obtained a non-profit designation. Coosa Valley RC&D formed in November 1965 and was the first Alabama council. In January 1993, Gulf Coast RC&D became the final council in Alabama to be established.

The RC&D Executive Director

Once federal funding stopped in 2011, each Council had to hire an Executive Director with local funds to replace the federal RC&D Coordinator and to continue the Council’s work in carrying out its objectives and goals. Although the loss of Federal Coordinators was a very bad event, Councils are very committed to continue providing quality services to its communities by seeking new government and business partners.

The RC&D Council

The RC&D Council is the heart of the RC&D concept. The Council is a membership-based nonprofit entity that is established and run by volunteers to carry out the mission of the RC&D. The Council is composed of members that are key community leaders in soil and water conservation, government, and community development. They are the steering committee and action team to implement the “Area Plan”, a community-driven strategic long-range plan to improve the quality of life and environment in the communities in the RC&D Area.

The RC&D Council members need to be action-oriented volunteers and leaders that help the Council address needs in the community through good planning and project implementation. In this “make it happen” style, the Council also annually evaluates its progress on the Area Plan and gathers input from the community. The Council members represent all the counties of the Area. This larger membership body formally meets periodically to develop the annual plan of work and celebrate accomplishments.

The RC&D Council’s Board of
Directors

The Board of Directors manage the affairs of the RC&D Council as an incorporated 501(c)(3) organization. The Board formally approves the Area Plan, mission, policies, budget, projects, and hiring of Council Staff. Board members have legal and fiduciary responsibilities. Essentially, the Board of Directors ensures that the organization is well-managed and running properly in order to obtain the objectives of the RC&D Council.

The RC&D Staff

Staff is hired by the Board to implement the annual and long range goals, policies, and organizational operations that have all been approved by the Board. The RC&D Staff joins with volunteer Board and Council Members, other volunteers and partners to help implement the goals of the RC&D Council.

Summary

The RC&D network is a powerful way to help people change their communities for the better. It’s the community-driven collaboration and communication that goes on between all the RC&D players that make it work. Sometimes it could be a Washington, DC representative brainstorming with Alabamians who may be eating collard greens and drinking sweet ice tea.

All programs and services of RC&D are  offered on a non-discriminatory basis, without regard to race, color, national
origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or family status.