Arkansas Land And Community Development Corporation

Arkansas Land And Community Development Corporation is a minority-owned, Black American-owned non-profit community development corporation based in Brinkley, Arkansas, that has been registered with the federal government since March 2014. The organization serves as a critical resource for historically underserved agricultural communities across Arkansas and neighboring states, providing technical assistance, training, and outreach programs designed to enhance economic opportunities and sustainability for disadvantaged populations. Through its federal grant awards, the organization delivers comprehensive support services that address barriers to agricultural participation and promote equitable access to federal agricultural programs and conservation initiatives.

The corporation's federal grant portfolio demonstrates extensive expertise in agricultural development, conservation education, and farmer support services across multiple USDA programs. Since 2021, Arkansas Land And Community Development Corporation has received nine prime federal grant awards totaling approximately $2.6 million, with funding from the USDA National Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), and the USDA's Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged and Veteran Farmers and Ranchers Program. Key service areas include providing training and technical assistance to beginning farmers and ranchers, delivering conservation outreach and education on climate-smart practices, addressing heir property barriers to agricultural participation, supporting small and micro farm business enterprises, and offering outsourced NRCS conservation services to underserved communities. The organization's project work has focused on recruiting and retaining beginning farmers and ranchers in a 42-county service area across rural Arkansas, developing business and conservation plans, facilitating access to USDA programs including EQIP and FSA, and promoting agricultural sustainability through partnerships with organizations such as the Livestock Association of Eastern Arkansas, Farm Bureau, and various USDA agencies. These grants, structured as both project grants and cooperative agreements, reflect the corporation's mission to close opportunity gaps for African American, socially disadvantaged, and veteran farmers and ranchers through individualized assessments, mentorship programs, and professional development opportunities.