Staff Report
From the Office of Representative Jim Barton
Mobile, Ala. – State Representative Jim Barton, R-Mobile, has been recognized as the 2012 House of Representatives Leader of the Year by the Alabama Association of Resource, Conservation and Development (AARCD) Councils during the quarterly Gulf Coast RC&D meeting recently held in Grand Bay.
The award is given to one state representative each year for showing leadership in the promotion of resource, conservation and development issues in Alabama.
Representative Barton serves as the Chairman of the House Ways and Means General Fund Committee, which is the committee that appropriates funding for general services and programs to the State of Alabama.
Representative Barton noted that the RC&D Councils help provide a better quality of life for many Alabamians and believes that communities can make their area a better place to live when resources are available.
“The Legislature has been committed to our partnership with RC&D for over 10 years and it’s because of the energy that the organization brings to make the state a better place,” said Barton, “I am thankful to be in position to address needs in my district and to share in the positive results around state.”
RC&D President Johnny Flowers was grateful for Barton’s leadership and commitment to promoting the RC&D mission.
“Rep. Barton has continued to demonstrate that he wants what all Alabamians want and that is to grow and develop our state through the wise use of natural resources,” said Flowers, “ Ultimately, the goal is to leave it better than you found it, but to develop and compete as well.”
In 2011, RC&D contributed to more than 400 projects, serving over approximately 600,000 citizens.
In 2010, RC&D assisted in creating/retaining 99 local businesses in rural communities and created or retained approximately 400 jobs, according to the USDA-Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) Program Operations Information Tracking System (POINTS).
The RC&D program was established by the Agriculture Act of 1962 to provide a program that empowers rural people
to help themselves. RC&D areas include adjacent counties that have substantial natural resources to use for economic improvement and community betterment.
There are nine RC&D councils throughout the state. RC&D Councils in Alabama are non-profit, tax-exempt organizations within the state that are designated 501(c) (3) entities by the Internal Revenue Service.
RC&D Councils are made up of citizens in an RC&D area who want a better life for themselves, their children, and future generations. RC&D Council representatives and alternates are volunteers who assist the RC&D.
For more information about our program please visit us at www.aarcd.net
