WASHINGTON, August 12, 2022 – The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced today that it will allocate $197 million to 41 local Project led by the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) for conservation projects. RCPP is a partner-driven program that leverages partner resources to advance innovative projects that address climate change, improve water quality and address other key challenges in agricultural land.
“Our partners are experts in their fields and understand the challenges in their own backyards,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “Through the RCPP, we can use this knowledge to work with producers and the USDA to come up with lasting solutions to the challenges facing farmers, ranchers and landowners. We look forward to seeing the best public-private outcomes from these RCPP investments. Collaborative outcomes.”
The projects funded today are opportunities awarded under two different RCPP grants: RCPP Classic and RCPP Alternative Funding Arrangements (AFA). The RCPP Classic Project is implemented in collaboration with project partners through NRCS contracts and easements with producers, landowners and communities. Through the RCPP AFA, partners have more flexibility to work directly with agricultural producers to support the development of new conservation structures and methods not available in RCPP Classic.
View the list of 2022 RCPP projects or view the interactive map.
As part of each project, partners provide value-added contributions to amplify the impact of RCPP funding in amounts equal to or greater than NRCS investments.
Private landowners may apply to participate in the RCPP program in their area through the winning partner or their local USDA service center.
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First authorized in the 2014 Farm Bill , RCPP has utilized more than $1 in partner contributions for every $1 invested by USDA, nearly $3 billion is collectively invested in natural resource conservation on private lands. Since its inception, the RCPP has won 589 awards involving more than 3,000 partner organizations. There are currently 401 projects under construction, with at least one under construction in every state and territory. Successful RCPP projects deliver innovative conservation solutions, leverage partner contributions, and deliver impactful and measurable outcomes.
For more information on the RCPP, visit the NRCS website.
RCPP is part of a broader effort by NRCS to work with partners. For example, the NRCS recently announced that it will invest $35 million this year through the Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) program. Through CIG, grantees work to address our nation’s water quality, water quantity, air quality, soil health and wildlife habitat challenges while supporting agricultural production.
USDA touches the lives of all Americans every day in many positive ways. During the Biden-Harris administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system, focusing more on more resilient local and regional food production, providing fairer markets for all producers, and ensuring safe, healthy access to all communities and nutrient-dense food, building new markets and channels using climate-smart food and forestry practices to increase incomes for farmers and producers, making historic investments in rural America’s infrastructure and clean energy capabilities, and addressing systemic barriers and Building a workforce that is more representative of America is committed to achieving equity across the sector. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov.
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