T-L Photo/JANELL HUNTER The U.S. Department of Agriculture authorized the creation of nonprofit local Resource Conservation and Development Councils across the country in 1962, and 50 years ago the Buckeye Hills RC&D Council was created to serve counties in Eastern Ohio. Standing, from left, are Buckeye Hills RC&D Executive Director Bob First and Monroe County Commissioners Carl Davis, Tim Price and Mick Schumacher. Seated, from left, are Buckeye Hills RC&D Councilman Bill Thomas, Buckeye Hills President Dale Dietrich, Monroe County Soil and Water Conservation District program Administrator Katie Day and Monroe SWCD Natural Resource Technician Roger Schumacher.

WOODSFIELD — A multi-county nonprofit agency with an overall goal of improving economic conditions through the development, conservation, and proper use of natural resources turned 50 years old this year, and the Monroe County Board of Commissioners recognized the organization Monday for its service to the community.

The Buckeye Hills Resource Conservation and Development Council was formed in 1967 after local leaders in Belmont, Monroe, Morgan, Noble and Washington counties came together as a way for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Soil Conservation Service to provide “technical expertise” to local units of government.

“The newly formed group was given approval from USDA-SCS to begin a planning process that would address a wide range of issues an thus would allow several state and federal agencies to lend technical support and assistance to solve problems,” agency officials state.

RC&D was originally established by the USDA in 1962to help rural areas across the country. The programs were administered by an executive council made up of local leaders. The USDA provided a federal staff coordinator, office space, vehicle, and equipment to support the program. The value of that support was about $135,000 per year. Funding for the program was cut in 2011 when Congress terminated funding for the RC&D program nationwide.

The Buckeye Hills RC&D Council now serves the nine counties of Athens, Belmont, Hocking, Meigs, Monroe, Morgan, Noble, Perry and Washington. It has an annual budget of $32,000 per year, and council members say their current financial needs are falling short by about $10,000 to $15,000 per year.

“The RC&D needs to secure local funding from donations, pledges and other support options to continue our work,” said Robert L. First, executive director. “The federal government has stopped supporting the program, but with the revolving loan program we are staying alive. … We have $300,000 in the loan fund and we have 15 or 16 active loans now. Our target is to help sole proprietorships. We can loan $15,000 per job.”

Services provided by the program include administration of a revolving loan fund to help small businesses expand, providing support and financial management for the Ohio Mineland Partnership, providing funding for rural fire protection, and operating an endowment fund with Marietta Community Foundation to provide grants for needed projects throughout the nine counties. Over the past 50 years, over 500 projects have been completed in the nine-county area.

“One of the best assets we’ve had for success has been the people involved with the program. Leadership and interest at the local level has always been invaluable in seeing projects become reality. Soil and water conservation efforts, community parks, dry fire hydrants and rural fire protection, abandoned mineland reclamation and water quality improvement, small business development, and recreation and tourism development are all projects that involved local people working to make their communities a better place to live,” First said.

The board of commissioners approved a resolution acknowledging the “many accomplishments of the organization throughout Monroe County and southeast Ohio.” The Buckeye Hills RC&D council will host its 50th Anniversary Celebration event on Aug. 17 in Marietta. First asked that those interested in attending contact the council at 740-374-6655 or at buckeyehillsrcd@yahoo.com for more information.