Pre-proposals for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) are due July 8, 2015. Eligible conservation coalitions nationwide will submit pre-proposals to improve soil health, preserve clean water, combat drought and protect wildlife habitat.

USDA is investing up to $235 million through RCPP to improve the nation’s water quality, combat drought, enhance soil health, support wildlife habitat and protect agricultural viability. Created by the 2014 Farm Bill, RCPP empowers local leaders to work with multiple partners—such as private companies, local and tribal governments, universities, non-profit groups and other non-government partners—along with farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners to design solutions that work best for their region. Local partners and the federal government both invest funding and manpower to projects to maximize their impact. USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service administers RCPP.

“RCPP offers a unique opportunity to design and invest in conservation projects specifically tailored for the communities of our local partners,” said NRCS Chief Jason Weller. “RCPP allows these public-private partnerships to thrive and have an impact well beyond what the federal government could accomplish on its own.”

More information is available on the RCPP website.