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USDA ANNOUNCES RECIPIENTS OF 2005 CONSERVATION PARTNERSHIP INITIATIVE GRANTS

WASHINGTON, May 11, 2005-Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns today awarded $1 million to eight entities through the Conservation Partnership Initiative (CPI), a voluntary program designed to foster conservation partnerships and fund projects that focus technical and financial resources on conservation priorities in watersheds and other geographic areas of environmental sensitivity.

"These grants are part of the Bush Administration's efforts to support cooperative conservation," said Johanns. "They enhance the development of locally led solutions to important natural resource problems and help producers cooperate and share information to address environmental challenges."

The Natural Resources Conservation Service received 31 proposals involving 31 states (including two multi-state submissions). Applications were received from two local agencies, six state agencies, two universities, five conservation districts, five resource conservation and development councils and 11 nongovernmental organizations (one nonprofit submitted two proposals in different states). Initiated last year, CPI is open to state and local governments, tribes and nongovernmental organizations with a history of working with agricultural producers.

CPI proposals were required to address one or more of the following conservation priorities: terrestrial and aquatic wildlife habitat, invasive species, agricultural air quality, livestock nutrient management and minor/specialty crop pest management.

  • The CPI grant recipients and award amounts are:
  • Arkansas, Watershed Conservation Resource Center - $150,300
  • California, Pit Resource Conservation District - $72,652
  • Georgia, Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission - $150,000
  • Maine, Unity Barn Raisers - $178,185
  • Minnesota, Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources - $200,000
  • Mississippi, North Central Mississippi RC&D Council - $27,863
  • North Carolina, Center for Agricultural Partnerships - $66,000
  • Pennsylvania, Penn State University, College of Agricultural Sciences - $155,000

Additional information on CPI and the grant awards is on the Web at http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/cpi.

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