State Conservation Agency Support for SWCD IT Needs

[Doug Thomas]

All:
I am looking for information on which states provide significant support to soil and water conservation districts to support their information and technology needs, such as hardware, IT support, software, internet services, etc…

Here in Minnesota we are beginning to see services historically provided by NRCS diminish and/or have so many strings attached that our state soil and water conservation district association is beginning to look at options including what other state have or are doing to provide greater support to their member districts.

Thanks in advance.
Doug Thomas, Assistant Director

[Jim Gillespie, Iowa]

Doug:
In Iowa we do not and are having similar discussions. It should be a topic we discuss when we get together the end of the month?
Jim Gillespie
Iowa

[Laurie Zeller]

In Montana, we provide small cost share grants to conservation districts to replace computers or printers no longer eligible to be connected to USDA’s network because of the age of the equipment. Conservation districts may apply for cost share to purchase laptop computers so they can download accounting software to do their books. It is a small investment — about $10,000 a year, but it helps keep equipment up to date.

Also, our state association provides conservation districts with alternate e-mail addresses so conservation districts can stay in business if, or when, the government shuts down or closes the office for any reason.

[Gary Moore]

This year Virginia continued to support the IT needs of SWCDs by providing a grant to the Virginia Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts to acquire a license for quick Books for all 47 SWCDs.

[Brian Farkas]

West Virginia does not provide equipment to districts, but we do help with technical support when requested. We have state employees assigned to district offices and it’s easy to extend IT support when requested. We are in the process of creating a video network with all the districts to reduce travel costs and time. We will pay 50 percent of the equipment costs, but the districts will be required to pay the monthly charges. We will install the network and help maintain.

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