Dedicated Funding...taxes, economy and habitat

[LandDr]

Proposal on use of dedicated funding to maximize the benefit for the economy, communities, taxpayers and the environment (habitat and conservation).

"Capacity" and "delivery" for the funding.  I personally believe that there is already a model in place to achieve the capacity and the delivery of the funding, installation and management of conservation and habitat onto the land.
 
It is Stearns county.
 
Each year Stearns county is in the top list of counties that sign up and implement conservation and habitat onto the land.  The reason is the partnership and team effort that exists in this county.  No group competes against each other...but rather we work together and support each other.
 
Here is a basic diagram of how it works...
 
FSA, NRCS, SWCD, DNR, USFW, Non-profits and Privates - We all work together in promotion, education and technical assistance to landowners.  Everyone is always invited to meetings, field days and other events to promote and educate.
 
FSA, NRCS, SWCD, DNR, USFW, Non-profits and Privates - We all work together with technical assistance, plan, design and application for programs and/or projects.  Again, this is a win win where everyone benefits and there is very little competition between groups.
 
Privates - Provide all of the seed, trees, installation and maintenance products and services.  There is no competition from any government or non-profit organization.  Private companies pay taxes and offer jobs that our economy needs and requires.  The government and non-profits support the private companies with continued technical assistance during the installation and maintenance tasks.  These private companies are farm managers, crop consultants, realtors, habitat companies, etc., etc.  Some are existing and some will be new start up companies that will further contribute to our economy and communities as they pay taxes and offer jobs.
 
The groups above are already in place...providing the "capacity" and "delivery".
 
My recommendations are as follows...
 
SWCDs - Provide funding to each SWCD to the capacity that they require to provide promotion, education and technical assistance.  Currently SWCDs compete with private businesses all across the state.  This takes away revenue from private businesses and costs the state thousands and thousands of dollars each year from lost tax revenue and private jobs.  Funding should be provided ONLY to those SWCDs that discontinue selling products and services that compete with private companies.  SWCDs, with this funding, should not require any need to sell products and services and should not have any concerns each year for meeting their budgets.  SWCDs offer an extremely important roll and position in helping deliver education, promotion and technical assistance...which in turn will support the private businesses, tax revenue and job creation.  Budget Needs - this number could be quickly determined by getting the total income from BWSR that each SWCD takes in from product and services sales.  Additionally, each office could include the amount that each county provides in funding as a means of reducing the need for funding from local counties and offering some help to local county budgets in this time of economic hardship.
 
DNR - Provide funding to each area office to the capacity that they require to provide promotion, education and technical assistance.  Currently the DNR competes with private businesses all across the state.  This takes away revenue from private businesses and costs the state thousands and thousands of dollars each year from lost tax revenue and private jobs.  Funding should be provided ONLY to those DNR offices that discontinue selling products and services that compete with private companies.  DNR, with this funding, should not require any need to sell products and services and should not have any concerns each year for meeting their budgets.  DNR offices offer an extremely important roll and position in helping deliver education, promotion and technical assistance...which in turn will support the private businesses, tax revenue and job creation.  Budget needs - unknown
 
Non-profits - Provide funding required for promotion, education and technical assistance.  Currently several non-profits compete with private businesses all across the state.  This takes away revenue from private businesses and costs the state thousands and thousands of dollars each year from lost tax revenue and private jobs.  Funding should be provided ONLY to those non-profits that discontinue selling products and services that compete with private companies.  Non-profits, with this funding, should not require any need to sell products and services.  Non-profits offer an extremely important roll and position in helping deliver education, promotion and technical assistance...which in turn will support the private businesses, tax revenue and job creation.  IMPORTANT - it should be clear to non-profits that they do not refer any one private company or receive commission for referrals to any one private company.  Just as with government agencies, vendor lists should be available and landowners should find the vendor that they want to work with.  Another option is to have all projects available to all vendors as a "project list" and vendors can bid on the projects that they want to bid on...similar to what the DNR and State does for letting out jobs, projects and products.  Budget needs - depending on the county but possible one technician per county.
 
Private Companies - Private companies will bid on projects as they come up.  Much of the cost of products and installation will be covered by additional funding/cost share from Federal programs that are tapped into.  However, funds should be made available for consulting services (technical assistance) as many private companies are excellent at promotion, education and technical assistance as well and should have an equal opportunity for funding for consulting services.  One option is to allow private companies to receive funding on a per project (landowner) basis similar to the DNR SIP program where stewardship plan writers assist landowners will planning and design.  I would recommend these funds available for application at the local level (SWCDs or DNR for example) but not require these organizations to oversee the plan writing.  Instead, base the application on performance and results (I have ideas for how this can be done efficiently and effectively). 
 
In summary, the partners are in place.  The roles just need to be better defined and some bad things need to stop so more good things can happen.  It would not be difficult to develop a budget for this nor would it take a lot of time to do this.
 
Thank you for the opportunity to present this proposal.  I am available at any time for discussion or further development.
 
Kyle Thompson, CEO
Prairie Land Management, Inc.
www.HabitatNOW.com