Connecticut Resource Conservation and Development Area (CT RC&D) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1967 with the mission to cultivate a diverse, equitable, and resilient Connecticut through partnership-driven solutions that enhance natural resource conservation, agriculture, and rural economies. With 59 years of project implementation across the state of Connecticut, CT RC&D continues to demonstrate that it is a reliable leader in agriculture and conservation that brings high value to partnership-driven initiatives.

The Resource Conservation and Development Program (RC&D) was established in the Food and Agriculture Act of 1962, now the Farm Bill, with responsibility for the administration of the programs within the USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), formerly the Soil Conservation Service. The creation of the RC&D Program in 1962 allowed the Soil Conservation Service to work with landowners in areas larger than watersheds or conservation districts to develop long-term economic development plans for the entire RC&D program area.

From 1962 until 2011, each Farm Bill provided funding for RC&Ds, serving nearly 400 locally focused RC&D areas at its peak and further deepening the partnership between RC&D Councils and the NRCS.

At their core, RC&Ds empower local citizens to develop and carry out action-oriented plans for the economic, environmental, and social enrichment of their communities. RC&Ds accelerate the development, utilization, and conservation of natural resources, to improve activity and enhance the standard of living in their regions.

While funding for RC&Ds across the country was eliminated from the Farm Bill in 2011, and many of these organizations closed their operations, CT RC&D has thrived. It took time to overcome the challenges this change presented to the organization. It took creativity and flexibility to secure stable funding and continue addressing the agricultural, natural resource, and economic issues brought to our attention. Most of all, it took determination and organizational resilience from the Council and its staff.

The strength of this organization is its deep roots within Connecticut's communities. This connection puts us at the forefront of observing and responding to the needs of Connecticut's farmers, agriculture-based rural small businesses, municipalities, land trusts, and communities of many types. We find and fill the gaps where state and federal programs struggle to reach these audiences.