Resource By NICOLE CARTRETTE The Columbus County Board of Commissioners backed a resolution Monday night that calls for the federal government to back off a plan to cut funding to programs such as the Cape Fear Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) program. The Bush Administration is proposing the elimination of the $56 million appropriation in the fiscal 2009 federal budget. That appropriation funds 375 Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) councils in the U.S., including the Cape Fear RC&D. “I’m here tonight on something that I think is very important,” RC&D Vice President Kip Godwin told the Board of Commissioners before asking them to vote in support of asking federal representatives and officials to continue funding the programs nationwide. The average cost to operate an RC&D council is $207,500, according to the resolution. The mission of the non-profit organization is “to work cooperatively with individuals and groups to improve social, economic and environmental conditions, thereby enhancing the quality of life in Bladen, Brunswick, Columbus, New Hanover and Pender counties.” A recent project with local impact includes the Waccamaw River debris removal project that consisted of cleaning 26 miles of the river funded largely by a $182,091 Division of Water Quality grant. The organization is also closely involved with initiating voluntary agricultural district programs in Bladen and Columbus counties.
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