Building Economic Access and Land Opportunities

The Conservation Fund, in partnership with McIntosh Sustainable Environment and Economic Development (McIntosh SEED) and the South Carolina Association for Community Economic Development (SCACED), will provide historically underserved producers innovative and individualized training and tools to overcome key challenges to adopting conservation practices (including EQIP practices) and thrive in sustainable agricultural operations. These challenges include: limited connection to and knowledge of their land’s natural resources, barriers to generating sustainable income, and historic limited access to USDA programs and other conservation tools. Through the proposed project, partners will: Provide 320+ producers and landowners with the tools and training to assess their land assets; Promote conservation practices among 320+ socially disadvantaged producers and landowners; Provide targeted technical assistance to 160 landowners and producers to become eligible for USDA EQIP and/or increase overall landowner sustainability through conservation practices and improved agricultural and forestry enterprises: To overcome systemic barriers in accessing USDA and other resources, project partners will provide dedicated individualized assistance to landowners and producers to support landowner-driven, data-informed priorities.