Top of the Ozarks Resource Conservation and Development, Inc. has a mission and mandate to serve the ten counties in this region to develop cultural opportunities in education, heritage acknowledgment and community development.   Here are some examples of our previous projects. 

 

Fuels For Schools

Our Fuels for Schools project has come to a close, to learn about the progress of this fantastic project, check out their website! 

 

Forestry

Top of the Ozarks RC&D has active projects in Ozarks forestry. With some counties 85% forested, timber and woodland management are a priority concern. The Council has undertaken many projects and activities in a variety of mediums, all with the goal of increasing private landowner education and management skill levels.  Current activities include:

• Development of Best Management Practices for Woody Biomass Management
  • Missouri Department of Conservation
• Forestry Writers Guild
  • Forestry Article Directory
• Forest Stewardship Plan Development: In conjunction with the Missouri Department of Conservation , the Council is administering the completion of EQIP funded forestry management plans.
• Fuel for Schools

Housing in the Ozarks

Throughout the majority of the area served by the Top of the Ozarks RC&D, there are no building codes, inspections, or regulations.  Additionally, with the average housing stock age 40+ years, many of our existing homes are inadequately structured to meet today’s electrical needs, plumbing demands and insulation levels.  To build only for today is not enough for tight financial conditions and environmental concerns.  In partnership with HUD and the University of Missouri Extension Service — Douglas County, we are constructing nine strawbale homes, offering technical supervision and financial incentives to this “new-to-the-area” technology.  Learn more at:

• Strawbale Construction in the Ozarks blog
• Strawbale Construction Initiative

Technology

The small cities, communities and villages that dot the landscape of the region served by Top of the Ozarks RC&D are often underfunded and understaffed.  The Council provides assistance on a range of projects

• Grant writing
• Supplying fiber optics to a village with a population of 424 residents
• Assisting a county courthouse in securing state funding to re-model for energy efficiency

We are currently assisting the Vollmar Community Center, constructed near the turn of the 20th century, in re-establishing itself as a focal point for reunions, social gatherings, and meetings.  The Council has secured a grant from the Allen P. and Josephine B. Green Foundation for a new roof.

Agriculture

A goal of the Council for the Top of the Ozarks RC&D has alwys been to support the tradtional agricultural infrastructure while assisting in efforts to add value or explore new options.

• Farmer’s Market Project -2009
  • With a grant from USDA Ag Marketing Services, Top of the Ozarks RC&D assisted 12 existing and emerging local farmers’ markets and more than 16 individual vendors making up the markets. A project technician met with leaders of organized markets providing help with developing sales opportunities, expanding sales “season”, improving product displays, broadening product mixes and providing resource materials from other successful markets andvendors.  Individual vendors were encouraged to broaden their product mix, explored potential for producer co-ops for greater marketing power, and investigated the possibility of a code compliant kitchen as an incubator possibility.