The Applications Are In: The Mid-South RC&D Council 2024 Grant Cycle in Review
Let’s discuss how our council ‘filled the gaps’ throughout our region during the 2024 grant cycle.
MONTGOMERY, AL – “Filling the gaps” and helping local people meet local needs defines the Mid-South RC&D Council. Last year, some of the most impactful projects came from applicants, like the BigHouse Foundation or the Central Alabama Prescribed Burn Association, who had never even heard of the RC&D program. Undoubtedly, bringing children in foster care basic necessities, or helping veterans and first responders receive life-changing certifications, can only happen when there is knowledge of the opportunities available at Mid-South RC&D.
Before the 2024 grant cycle began, our council developed a strategy to expand our community outreach and promote our mission to “fill the gaps” in our region.
The Mission
Mid-South RC&D is dedicated to improving our communities’ quality of life and economic well-being by enhancing our human and natural resources through education and involvement in response to the needs of our region. Our mission comes to life by funding projects that align with our annual priorities and work to “fill the gaps.”
Council members and staff set goals to increase the number of applications, create community engagement, and spread awareness of the resources available within RC&D. To accomplish this, there needed to be a more in-depth understanding of our regional needs, and no one knows the needs of Mid-South RC&D communities better than our state legislators.
The Mission in Action
Working directly with The Cosby Company and RC&D Program Developer Noopie Cosby, we were able to implement a pilot program designed to help us meet local needs in all 25 legislative districts. The Legislative Outreach Program allows us to collaborate with legislators and partnering organizations, ensuring that projects are established in each part of our region.
Executive Director Pamela Hughes visited legislators to hear first-hand of current needs within our region. Together, state representatives and senators were able to fully describe voids in our region which led us to multiple agencies, such as local volunteer fire departments, schools, libraries, and other nonprofits that needed our help to “fill the gaps.”
Council members and staff attended commission meetings in all eight respective counties, where the focus was on spreading awareness of our mission and encouraging local entities to participate in the grant application process. We worked together to expand our community outreach by networking with potential grantees specializing in areas such as the arts, historical preservation, and tourism. In addition, staff members were able to conduct research that established social media campaigns targeted toward local agencies and nonprofit organizations in our region.
Filling the Gaps
As a result, Mid-South RC&D had one of the most successful grant cycles to date, receiving a record-breaking number of applicants. In total, the council acquired approximately 128 applications. County committees immediately set to work, ranking applications based on 2024 priorities and grant policies. After ranking, board members voted to approve selected education and general projects going into effect on October 1. In 2024, Mid-South RC&D expects 96% of regional legislative districts to have projects that “fill the gaps.”
Thank you to our legislators, community partners, and local agencies for supporting our council’s mission to improve quality of life and enhance human and natural resources. To learn more about how to “fill the gaps” in your community, please give us a call or visit our website www.midsouthrcd.org.
