2027 MACD AmeriCorps Cost Share Application Now Open

Application Deadline: November 16, 2026
Selection Notifications: November 30, 2026

The Montana Association of Conservation Districts (MACD), in partnership with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), is offering cost share funding to help Montana conservation districts host a 2027 Big Sky Watershed Corps (BSWC) member.

Eligible conservation districts that have applied for and accepted a BSWC member may apply for MACD cost share funding to help cover the cost of hosting a member.

Funding Available

Selected host sites may receive up to $11,500 in cost share funding, covering approximately 63% of the $18,000 program cost. Host sites are responsible for the remaining $6,500.

Benefits to Conservation Districts

Big Sky Watershed Corps members can help districts expand their capacity through:

• Project planning, implementation, and outreach
• Technical assistance supporting NRCS objectives and Farm Bill program participation
• Community engagement and conservation education
• Support for soil health, agriculture, forestry, water resources, wildlife, and other conservation priorities

Members serve 1,700 hours over 10.5 months, from January through November 2027. The Montana Conservation Corps (MCC) and MACD provide professional support with member recruitment, training, and administration.

Application Requirements

Applicants must complete all sections of the application with full, specific responses. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

The application asks districts to describe:

1. District Needs and Benefits: Identify district needs, capacity gaps, projects, seasonal workloads, or outreach initiatives an AmeriCorps member could support.
2. Training Commitment: Describe the training the district will provide to its member.
3. Supervision Plan: Identify who will supervise the member and describe their relevant supervision and management experience.
4. Project Contributions: Explain, with specific examples, how the member will support NRCS objectives through technical assistance, outreach, Farm Bill program participation, and resource conservation.

Learn More and Apply

Learn more about the Big Sky Watershed Corps program through the Montana Conservation Corps website.

Eligible conservation districts are encouraged to apply by November 16, 2026. Selected districts will be notified by November 30, 2026.