Since 2016, NACD has partnered with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) on a very successful Urban and Community Conservation (UAC) grant initiative, awarding over $6.5 million dollars for 153 different projects.

In fiscal year 2023, NACD will again award up to $1.3 million through the UAC program, with the March 13 deadline for applications fast approaching. Interested applicants may review NACD’s Urban and Community Conservation webpage for the full request for proposals (RFP) and examples of projects from previous grantees. Grantees have completed projects like targeting outreach programs to underrepresented smallholder farmers, conducting activities related to urban soil health, and partnering with schools to expand learning gardens.

Districts who are interested in applying must demonstrate in their application how they will build district capacity to provide technical assistance beyond the frame of the UAC grant. Partnerships with other organizations may help provide some of this long-term sustainability, for example many districts work with local youth- and faith-based organizations for support with events and maintenance of garden sites, or with local cooperative extension, NRCS, and universities to help fill gaps in the district’s technical abilities. The monthly spotlights in NACD’s eResource (the second Tuesday of each month), are a great source of example partnership opportunities. Districts may also review the funding resources section on NACD’s Member’s Only page for additional grant examples that some districts have used to sustain their programs through time.

Conservation districts may view the complete request for proposals (RFP) on the Urban and Community Conservation webpage. The online application portal is now open, with a deadline of 11:59 p.m. Pacific on March 13, 2023.

NACD COMMENTS ON BLM SOLAR DEVELOPMENT PLAN

NACD provided comment in response to the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) request for feedback to inform the agency’s resource management plan (RMP) amendments and update of the programmatic environmental impact statement (EIS) for the BLM’s utility-scale solar energy planning. NACD’s comments encourage BLM to support:  

• The “Smart from the Start” approach to incentivize renewable energy development on lands with the fewest resource concerns, including lands that are already impacted;
• Coordination with local stakeholders to ensure consistency with local land use plans and to identify potential impacts and benefits for local communities;
• Prioritization of areas identified in both local and federal solar energy development plans;
• The development of mapping and accounting practices to track permitted and proposed renewable energy development on public lands; and
• The use of a full life cycle programmatic environmental impact statement to identify the needs and impacts of the development from conception to disposal.  

Read the full comments in our newsroom.

NACD REQUESTING APPLICATIONS FOR OUTREACH GRANT PROGRAM

NACD is accepting applications for historically underserved farmer-to-farmer outreach and on-the-ground projects that mitigate hypoxic conditions in the Gulf of Mexico. Projects are expected to include water quality, habitat restoration, and sustainable forest management initiatives. NACD expects to award up to $2.7 million in grants that range from $75,000 to $250,000 each.

The objectives of this grant program are to:

• Work directly with Native American and/or historically underserved producers on novel or innovative techniques, methods, or approaches that reduce non-point source pollution and increase the sustainability and resiliency of their operations;
• Leverage community-based partnerships to increase knowledge sharing and collaboration;
• Collect and analyze data to demonstrate the results of funded projects; and
• Disseminate results to the community to inform future conservation practices and expand adoption of the most cost-effective and sustainable approaches.

Projects must be located in Texas, Mississippi, Alabama, and portions of Florida, Georgia, New Mexico, and CO that are in the Gulf of Mexico watershed. (As seen in purple on the map.)

Conservation districts, their respective state associations or state agencies, Resource Conservation & Development Councils, Indian Tribal Governments, and intertribal consortia are all eligible to receive this funding. Those who are interested in learning more can check out NACD’s website, sign up to receive updates, and complete a pre-application. Pre-applications will be accepted through April 21, 2023, 11:59 p.m. ET. It is anticipated that final applications will be due on June 9, 2023, with selections late summer 2023.

NACD will also be hosting another webinar on this funding opportunity on March 21. Registration is required for the webinar.

Read the full announcement here. Please contact NACD’s Grants Specialist, Chloe Hundelt, with any questions.

EPA'S PFAS STRATEGIC ROADMAP & PUBLIC LISTENING SESSIONS

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced a series of virtual listening sessions on EPA’s per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) Strategic Roadmap.

Since February 28 and continuing through late April, EPA is holding virtual sessions focused on each region, as well as a session specifically dedicated to understanding the challenges Tribal partners experience with PFAS contamination. Each session will provide information about EPA’s ongoing work to address PFAS contamination and provide an opportunity for communities to share feedback directly with EPA to inform the implementation of the Roadmap.  

EPA and partners are working to answer critical questions about PFAS and its impacts on the environment. PFAS (polyfluoroalkyl substances) are widely used, long lasting chemicals that are linked to harmful health effects in humans. Use of PFAS is widespread and so common that PFAS are found in almost all aspects of our environment. EPA has earmarked $2 billion from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to be made available to communities as grants through EPA’s Emerging Contaminants in Small or Disadvantaged Communities grant program. These funds are intended for use to promote access to safe and clean water in small, rural, and disadvantaged communities while supporting local economies.  

Listening sessions will be held approximately once a week until each region and EPA’s Tribal partners have had an opportunity to contribute to the conversation. While Region 7 and Region 3 listening sessions have already been held, Region 8 (mountain west) is scheduled for March 8, 2023. More information on registration and time/date can be found on EPA's website.