Nrcs chief priority - encourage historically underserved producers to engage with nrcs programs to improve management of working lands and forestland through climate-smart practices

The National Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture has awarded a $9,000,000 Cooperative Agreement under the Soil and Water Conservation program (CFDA 10.902) to The Kkac Organization, a minority-owned non-profit community development corporation. The funding supports the delivery of technical assistance, education, training, and outreach services focused on promoting sustainable land management, conservation efforts, and economic development in historically underserved communities, particularly African American landowners, across multiple states including the Mississippi Delta region, Alabama, Arkansas, Michigan, and South Carolina.

The Kkac Organization will utilize the Cooperative Agreement funding to provide comprehensive services encompassing sustainable forestry, working lands management, land conservation easements, estate planning, and youth agribusiness programs. This work aims to increase awareness and utilization of NRCS conservation programs, such as the Soil and Water Conservation program, Environmental Quality Incentives Program, Agricultural Conservation Easement Program, and the Inflation Reduction Act Urban & Community Forestry Program, among the target communities. Additionally, the organization has worked as a sub-grantee with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to provide outreach and technical assistance for forest habitat restoration and enrollment in programs like the Wetland Reserve Easement Program.