Our Vision:

RC&D Partnerships Serving America's Communities 

Our Mission:

The National Association of Resource Conservation and Development Councils (NARC&DC) serves as an advocate for local RC&D Councils. We help local Councils identify, address, and solve challenges to sustain and improve quality of life in their own communities. 

Almost 50 years ago, Congress established a unique program within the U.S. Department of Agriculture that empowered rural people to help themselves. The USDA focus was to assist local people by providing tools and technical support to stabilize and grow their own communities while simultaneously protecting and developing natural resources. To carry out the RC&D concept, diverse groups of local volunteers (the RC&D Council) are brought together in a unique partnership to find solutions to their problems. Local people are best able to determine needs and create solutions for their communities. The focus on local direction and control has made RC&D one of the most successful rural development programs in the country. 

The National Association of Resource Conservation and Development Councils (NARC&DC) was established in 1988 to represent America's 375 local Resource Conservation and Development Councils. These local RC&D Councils deliver coordinated resource conservation and rural development assistance throughout rural America. By working together on local RC&D Councils, communities, all levels of government, and grassroots organizations work together to develop and implement solutions to widespread problems and to develop opportunities that will help sustain rural communities, local economies, and natural resources.