Western Maryland Resource Conservation & Development (RC&D)

Established in 1993

What is WMRC&D?

  • Not-for-profit, tax-exempt organization within the state and are 501 (c)(3) entities by the Internal Revenue Service Determination
  • Unique organization that helps people protect and develop their economic, natural, and social resources to improve their areas economy, environment, and quality of life
  • Provides a way for people to plan and implement projects to make their communities better places to live
  • Brings together people, needs, concerns, opportunities, and solutions
  • Provides “facilitated self-help” for conservation and economic development
  • Provides locally led framework for dealing with issues through citizen participation
  • Action-directed. We accomplish what is planned and agreed to by communities, public and private organizations, and programs—all working together for a common goal
  • Unique combination of private enterprise and federal assistance that encourages the blending of natural resources use with local economic and social values

What are the Benefits of RC&D?

  • Designed to make communities more viable, productive, and better places to live
  • Projects  create new jobs in agriculture, forestry, tourism, and other industries
  • Projects may focus on natural resource issues, or may work to improve community development, economic growth, or quality of life in Western Maryland

Who can be involved?

  • Anyone who……
    • believes that one person can make a difference
    • wants to be involved in making things happen in their community, county, region, or state
    • wants to see natural resources utilized without adversely affecting the environment
    • wants to improve the quality of life in their community

How can you get involved?

  • You can make things happen!!
    • People from all walks of life—there’s a place for YOU
      • Doesn’t matter whether you live in the country or city
      • Doesn’t matter if you’re a teacher, business or farm owner, homeowner, consumer, school council member
    • Involvement or assistance
      • Provide technical assistance or funding
    • Most work is accomplished in committees
      • Seek private citizens, businesses, and organizations to become members to participate, plan projects, or help identify priorities
    • Your participation is WELCOME!

What are RC&D Sponsors

  • Board of Commissioners (appoint qualified representative to serve on Council to represent their interests)
  • Conservation Districts Board
  • Cooperative Extension Service (County Level)
  • Others may include:
    • cities, townships, civic organizations, regional planning bodies, local non-profit organizations, Indian tribal bodies, special districts (i.e., conservancy), and others

What can RC&D do that others cannot?

  • Unlike Conservation Districts, Cooperative Extension Service, NRCS, and other County Organizations….RC&D Councils can:
    • Secure grant funds from private foundations and others through our 501 (c)(3) status.
    • Bring private enterprise to the table
    • Work across jurisdictional, political, and other boundaries to address multi-county issues
    • Diverse partners and private citizens & businesses to solve problems
    • Another tool for these agencies to find resource to address local issues: examples
      • Create a park, open a tourist attraction, work on multi-county water quality or weed control or issues, promote an industry or small businesses, provide funding for rural emergency medical services and equipment, preserve a historical site, develop a wildlife habitat, conduct workshops (e.g., alternative energy)….