Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

The Ala-Tom Resource Conservation and Development council met Thursday at the community center in Orrville to discuss the importance of the organization, their cause and to highlight the impact of the grants that were given out within the fiscal year in the State of Alabama.

Between 75 and 77 grant projects were completed over the last fiscal year from the organization.

Across the state and all nine council regions including the state association, they have implemented 384 education projects, 397 general fund projects and also have invested $8 million, back in the state of Alabama, according to communication specialist Mary Kendall Dixon with the State Association of the Ala-Tom RC&D council.

“None of this would be possible without our legislators and the support that we get from them,” Kendall said. “We’re very thankful for them and thank you to Noobie Cosby for the work that you and your team do at the State house.”

Kendall said over the last five years, the Ala-Tom RC&D council have implemented 1,976 education projects, 1,809 general fund projects and have invested $31 million back into all 67 Alabama counties.

Just two weeks ago, Dallas County received funding from the organization as well.

“Without this assistance and without this funding, much of these projects would not come to fruition,” said Dallas County Probate Judge Jimmy Nunn. “It just would not come because the money is just not there. Every well that you go to is dried up, but we are thankful for our Ala-Tom RC&D council for what you’re doing for us.”

Chairman Nick Williams of the organization and Probate Judge of Washington County said that they have 95 new projects, going into 2025.

“That’s a lot of projects,” Williams said. “Normally, we have about 70 to 75 projects, but bear with us. We don’t have a lot of staff, but we’ve got a lot of work to do.”

Williams said even though the staff is limited, he is proud of the progress they have made so far and is grateful for their continuous efforts.

“Without the partnerships that we have, with our local partnerships, our state partnerships, our regional partnerships and our national partnerships, we couldn’t do the things that we did,” Williams said. “All of us working together to do the things we do, make all the things come to pass that we are able to do.

During the organization’s annual meeting, several affiliated programs and organizations presented their efforts to help the community of Orrville and other surrounding counties within the State of Alabama.

The Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries mentioned to attendees and officials about feeding change.

“I was at a meeting yesterday in Montgomery that was talking about getting people fed and that’s what we do in agriculture. We are getting people fed and I represented at that meeting not only about the department but Sweet Grown Alabama,” said Bob Plaster, Assistant Commissioner of Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries.

Sweet Grown Alabama is a program that was started in 2019 with no members and hardly any engagement to push the idea to locate farmers locally who would like to share and sell their crops to the public. They soon created a community group geared towards farmers in their respective areas, and in 2024, the program has grown to 450 members.

Plaster said he is encouraging residents of Orrville and any surrounding counties to get involved and to reach out to Ala-Tom RC&D council for more help.