Appalachian Resource Conservation And Development Council

Appalachian Resource Conservation And Development Council, headquartered in Johnson City, Tennessee, is a tax-exempt nonprofit organization and community development corporation that has served as a prime recipient of federal grant awards since at least 2021. The organization functions as a regional leader in agricultural development, food system enhancement, and community resilience initiatives throughout Northeast Tennessee and the broader Appalachian region. As a grant recipient, the council provides comprehensive services and programs focused on sustainable agriculture, rural economic development, conservation, food security, and support for underserved populations including veterans, beginning farmers, and low-income households.

The council's grant work encompasses a diverse portfolio of initiatives funded by multiple federal agencies. Agricultural and food system programs represent a significant portion of its work, including the Tennessee AgVets Opportunities on Farmland (TN AgVols) program funded by the Institute of Youth, Family, and Community, which serves transitioning military personnel and veteran farmers with technical assistance, education, and hands-on training in partnership with the University of Tennessee Extension, Tennessee State University, Fort Campbell U.S. Army Garrison, and the Farmer Veteran Coalition of Tennessee. The council has also managed the Appalachian Farmacy program through the Institute of Food Safety and Nutrition, which provided direct financial incentives to 360 low-income households for purchasing fresh produce from local farmers and markets while supporting family-owned farms. Its work in local food system development, funded by the Agricultural Marketing Service, involved establishing a food policy council, creating a regional farmer cooperative, launching the "Northeast Tennessee Grown" branding campaign, and developing a virtual local food hub. Conservation-focused grants from the National Resources Conservation Service have addressed pollinator garden creation, raised bed vegetable gardening installation, and expansion of conservation program access for historically underserved farmers. The council received capacity-building support through the Appalachian Regional Commission and workforce development funding for sector-based strategies. Additionally, the council has administered sub-awards from the Tennessee Department of Agriculture related to fire prevention services, hazard mitigation, community fire protection, and wildfire risk planning, as well as the Gap Creek-Wautauga River restoration project. An AmeriCorps program administered through Volunteer Tennessee provided ten AmeriCorps members to deliver outreach and education on health, wellness, nutrition, food access, and gardening. Most recently, the council received disaster recovery support through the Rural Business Cooperative Services' Rural Business Development Grants for Disaster program in September 2025, demonstrating its continued role in regional economic resilience.