CARCD, NRCS, CDFA, and UC Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR) are collaborating through the California Conservation Planning Partnership (C2P2) to strengthen the coordinated delivery of conservation assistance across California. As part of this partnership, CARCD leads a workgroup focused on “Maintaining Consistent Locally Led Technical Assistance.” Staff from all four partner organizations have contributed to exploring how we can help ensure that producers and land stewards in every county have consistent access to trusted, locally led technical assistance.

The workgroup has used the “Programs 101” event model as a practical example. First developed and hosted by Glenn County RCD in 2019, Programs 101 brings local technical assistance providers together to give producers clear, concise information about available conservation programs, funding opportunities, and local assistance. Several other RCDs have since adapted and hosted similar events in their communities.

Based on these experiences, the workgroup developed the attached Roadmap for Maintaining Consistent Locally Led Technical Assistance. The roadmap provides a practical and adaptable framework for RCDs interested in strengthening their local technical assistance networks and hosting a Programs 101 event. It includes:

• Guidance for convening local technical assistance providers
• A recommended structure and best practices for a Programs 101 event
• Suggested planning timelines and partner roles
• Sample budgets, outreach emails, an interest form, and an event checklist
• Examples and lessons from RCDs that have hosted these events

The roadmap is intended as a flexible resource rather than a one-size-fits-all requirement. We encourage each RCD to adapt it based on its local relationships, producer needs, organizational capacity, and regional context.

Please feel free to reach out to me at qi-zhou@carcd.org if you have questions, are considering hosting a Programs 101 event, or have additional examples and lessons you would like to share. We hope this resource will help RCDs and their partners build durable local networks that producers and land stewards can rely on year after year.

 

Roadmap for Consistent Locally Led TA-share.pdf