Grant Awarded to Kankakee County Soil & Water Conservation District
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Nora Nolden, Communications Consultant
[email protected] or (651) 245-6804
Compeer Financial Awards MORE for Agriculture Grant to Kankakee County Soil & Water Conservation District
The $49K grant will fund Soil on Demand soil sensor project
Bloomington, Ill., (November 30, 2022) – Compeer Financial’s Fund for Rural America has awarded $48,900 to the Kankakee County Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD), through their MORE for Agriculture Grant.
This grant, now in its fourth year, supports innovative programs that encompass four qualities:
Mission: Aligns with the mission of Compeer Financial, enriches agriculture and rural communities
Opportunity: Provides a new opportunity for clients or future clients, fills a known void in agricultural and rural markets, is a new and innovative project
Replication: Can be replicated by others to serve different geographic areas, with the ability for future collaboration
Evolution: Evolves over time to create a better future for agriculture and rural America
Support for Kankakee County SWCD will go toward a two-year remote soil sensor project. The sensor systems, located at eight separate locations, will measure soil temperature and moisture every 55 minutes, and share the information publicly through a cloud platform. The goal of the program is to facilitate education for local farmers and landowners about stewardship of natural resources, technical assistance, financial opportunities, tools and technology to implement sustainable agriculture practices.
“The Kankakee County SWCD is thrilled for the opportunity to partner with Compeer Financial to expand our Soil on Demand remote soil sensor project. Although SWCDs throughout Illinois provide important technical and financial assistance to local farmers, they are often underfunded and understaffed. The Kankakee County SWCD has taken initiative to seek collaborative project grants, like the MORE for Ag grant, to build partnerships and directly benefit local farmers and the community. Support from Compeer Financial will allow us to further conservation and empower farmers in a new and innovative way.”
The Compeer Financial Fund for Rural America Trustees asked Compeer team members to identify programs and projects they believe create MORE for agriculture. In all, over $800,000 has been awarded to 18 organizations since 2019.
“It is an honor to partner with these organizations who are truly making a difference in their communities with these pioneering projects,” said Karen Schieler senior corporate giving specialist at Compeer. “The MORE for Agriculture grant recipients are leaders and innovators in the world of agriculture. We hope these projects and programs inspire others to create MORE for Agriculture.”
For more information, visit compeer.com/giving-back.
About the Fund for Rural America
The Compeer Financial Fund for Rural America is the corporate giving program of Compeer Financial, structured to support Compeer Financial’s mission to enrich agriculture and rural America. Compeer Financial’s Board of Directors has dedicated one percent of annual net earnings to support the Fund’s focus areas of education, youth engagement, rural development and community enrichment, agricultural advocacy and development, and cooperative initiatives. The Fund is managed by a Board of Trustees, made up of team members from Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin and members of the Compeer Financial Board of Directors. More information about opportunities available through the Fund can be found at Compeer.com/giving-back.
About Compeer Financial
Compeer Financial is a member-owned Farm Credit cooperative serving and supporting agriculture and rural communities. The $27.3 billion organization provides loans, leases, risk management and other financial services throughout 144 counties in Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin. Based in the Upper Midwest, Compeer Financial exists to champion the hopes and dreams of rural America, while providing personalized service and expertise to clients and the agriculture industry.
Compeer Financial is the third largest cooperative of the Farm Credit System, a nationwide network of lending institutions supporting agriculture and rural communities with reliable, consistent credit and financial services. Learn more about Compeer Financial.
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