How community planners and other local leaders can utilize the agencies of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Natural Resource & Conservation Service (NRCS) & United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development (USDA RD), for community plan creation and implementation is the focus of this session. We will discuss how these agencies can assist community development in agricultural and non-agricultural areas.
When Americans hear USDA, usually food and farming come to mind. But the USDA RD not only supports agricultural producers; it also supports the communities where these farmers and their families live. The agency has the role of administering more than 50 loan and grant programs to help expand economic opportunities and create jobs in rural areas by supporting infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community facilities (schools, public safety, and health care); and high-speed internet access.
And since 1935, the NRCS has provided leadership in a partnership effort to help America's private landowners and managers conserve their soil, water, and other natural resources. NRCS employees provide technical assistance based on sound science and suited to a customer's specific needs. The agency’s Conservation Technical Assistance (CTA) program provides technical assistance to land-users, communities, units of state and local government, and other Federal agencies in planning and implementing conservation systems.
This series of monthly land-use webinars will present in-depth information on land-use topics affecting the communities of Pennsylvania.