Indianapolis (June 7, 2024) - This week the new initiative Resilient Indiana: Technical Assistance for Soil and Water Conservation Districts (RITA) began with their first cohort of six technicians.
This new program housed under the Indiana Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts is supported by the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service and Clean Water Indiana (CWI).
Resilient Indiana is dedicated to providing on-the-ground technical assistance to Indiana’s Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCD). Each RITA Tech will work one-on-one with their assigned Districts to develop, support and expand programs that support the District’s priorities. The Techs will spend about one day a week at each office and while there, function as if they are a District employee. Having them embedded this way will ensure that they work closely with the SWCD staff and increase the services provided to their communities. By collaborating with other Indiana Conservation Partnership (ICP) organizations, this effort will help Indiana landowners and producers enhance the resilience of their operations.
Each of the six technicians will be assigned to areas throughout the state with additional technicians being hired early next year to extend statewide coverage. Resilient Indiana’s goal is to support all 92 county districts once it is fully staffed.
Meg Leader, RITA Program Director, states, “I am excited for the RITA Technicians to begin engaging with SWCDs and partners in their regions. They are all driven to enhance conservation practices with producers and landowners throughout the state. With time and guidance, we are fostering the next generation of leaders and advancing the mission of protecting Indiana's natural resources."
Meet the RITA Technicians:
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