United States Department of Agriculture
Natural Resources Conservation Service		 Maine Go to Accessibility Information
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Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D)

Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) is a unique program that helps people care for and protect their natural resources in a way that will improve the area's economy, environment and living standards. It provides a way for people to work together to plan and carry out activities that will make their area a better place to live. It improves the capability of State, tribal and local units of government and local non-profit organizations in rural areas to plan, develop and carry out programs for resource conservation and development.

To carry out the RC&D concept, diverse groups of local volunteers are brought together in a unique partnership to find solutions to their problems. The structure for this process involves:

  • Identification of obstacles and opportunities
  • Establishing goals and objectives
  • Developing alternative plans 
  • Implementing plans

The RC&D Program is based on a number of principles that make it a unique partnership between USDA and locally-run RC&Ds. The principles for this working partnership are:

  • The value of working together...making best use of limited resources.
  • The value of grassroots involvement in making decisions locally.
  • USDA agencies working together on the same problems and opportunities.
  • Leveraging limited federal dollars with private funds to accomplish goals.
  • Working toward the goal of sustainable rural landscapes.
  • Balancing rural economic development with natural resource protection.

The purpose of the RC&D Program in Maine is to advance the conservation and development of local natural resources in each RC&D that improves the social, environmental and economic conditions in rural Maine communities.

Authorized RC&D areas are locally sponsored areas designated by the Secretary of Agriculture for RC&D technical and financial assistance program funds. The Natural Resources Conservation Service can provide grants for land conservation, water management, community development, and environmental needs in authorized RC&D areas.

RC&D Offices in Maine:

  • Down East RC&D (Hancock and Washington
    Counties)
  • Heart of Maine RC&D (Penobscot, Piscataquis and Somerset Counties)
  • St. John Aroostook RC&D (Aroostook County)
  • Threshold to Maine RC&D (Cumberland, Franklin, Oxford and York Counties)
  • Time and Tide RC&D (Knox, Lincoln, Waldo, Kennebec, Androscoggin and Sagadahoc)

 

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