The NORTHAMPTON COUNTY CONSERVATION DISTRICT (NCCD) in NORTHAMPTON COUNTY/NAZARETH, PA, announced today that it was awarded $27,140 in funding through a 2019 NACD technical assistance (TA) grant, made possible through a partnership with the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to build and strengthen technical capacity nationwide.

NCCD will use TA grant funding to support the salary and benefit costs of the agricultural conservation specialist position to assist NRCS staff with implementation of the Environmental Quality Incentives (EQIP) and Conservation Technical Assistance Planning (COTA) programs within Northampton County.

“The District is excited for the opportunity to further assist our local agricultural community and continue to build our partnership with NRCS,” said Northampton County Conservation District Manager, Sharon Pletchan.

NACD and NRCS established the Technical Assistance Grant Initiative in 2018 through a cooperative agreement to help conservation districts hire staff where additional technical capacity was needed to improve customer service and reduce workload pressure.

In 2018, NACD and NRCS awarded $9 million in funding to further enhance conservation district technical assistance across the nation. To date in 2019, NACD and NRCS have awarded grants totaling $9.9 million in 47 states and two territories, funding nearly 210 positions, including 10 tribe-related positions.

“Building and strengthening technical capacity on a grassroots level is crucial when it comes to local natural resources management,” NACD President Tim Palmer said. “Every acre and every district employee counts when it comes to the conservation puzzle, whether it’s a soil conservation technician, forester or program support specialist.”

“NACD is proud to help put more boots on the ground and offer support to bolster the important work conservation districts accomplish on America’s landscapes every day,” Palmer said.

Learn more about the technical assistance grants program on NACD’s website.

Contact: Sharon Pletchan, Northampton County Conservation District Manager spletchan@northamptoncounty.org 610-829-6284

The National Association of Conservation Districts is the non-profit organization that represents the nation’s 3,000 conservation districts, their state associations and the 17,000 men and women who serve on their governing boards. For more than 70 years, local conservation districts have worked with cooperating landowners and managers of private working lands to help them plan and apply effective conservation practices. For more information about NACD, visit: www.nacdnet.org.