Recipient Organization
CENTER FOR HEIRS PROPERTY PRESERVATION
1535 SAM RITTENBERG BLVD
CHARLESTON,SC 29407
Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
Heirs' property is considered the "biggest problem most have never heard of". It is simply property (land) that has been passed down to heirs without a will. It has been the largest cause of Black land loss but is an issue that extends to all communities across America. This project is designed to address inequities that are occurring among underserved farmers, ranchers, forest landowners and operators in being aware, understanding and accessing US Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs. In addition, a major barrier to accessing USDA programs and a major cause of land loss among these landowners--heirs' property--will be addressed.The Center for Heirs' Property Preservation™ (or CHPP™), established in 2005, has a mission of protecting heirs' property (HP) and promoting the sustainable use of land to provide increased economic benefit to historically underserved families across a 22-county area in the Lowcountry of South Carolina (SC). CHPP™ employs three key strategies to accomplish this mission--all of which generate and root local wealth: a) Prevention of land loss through landowner engagement, education, and organizing; b) Legal resolution of heirs' property title issues; and c) Promoting sustainable land use by technically assisting landowners in restoring the ecological health and productivity of their forest and farmland. CHPP™ implements these strategies in 22 of the state's 46 counties. With the assistance of this cooperative agreement, CHPP™ will expand to serve all 46 counties across the State of South Carolina.These goals will be accomplished through conducting workshops, seminars, informational packets, presentations, landowner symposia and clinics and the provision of education, technical assistance and direct legal services for these landowners. The provision of these services will result in: increased knowledge of forestry/agriculture techniques, increased number of HULOs applying for cost-share funds, increased awareness and knowledge of heirs' property resolution, titles resolved, estate plans drafted, increased CHPP™ and its partners have started an economic and conservation movement that creates wealth among landowners. CHPP™ protects family land by equipping families with the tools they need to build wealth and grow healthy working landscapes. All these efforts are critical to building local economies, enhancing rural business development, and fostering agricultural enterprises that are climate-smart, resilient and can ultimately produce global benefits (emission reduction, food security, poverty reduction).
Animal Health Component
(N/A)
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
(N/A)
Developmental
(N/A)
Goals / Objectives
The major goal of this project is to improve understanding of and equitable participation in USDA programs and services among underserved farmers, ranchers, forest landowners and operators (hereafter called historically underserved landowners--HULOs).The objectives to accomplish this goal are to increase:the number of HULOs accessing USDA cost-share programs, loans, grants and technical assistance andthe number of historically underserved heirs' property owners resolving title to remove this barrier from accessing USDA programsCHPP will provide an array of services, such as outreach to introduce USDA programs, technical assistance, cooperative development training and support, financial literacy and training, mediation access, capacity building training, market planning, technical assistance concerning heirs' property, agriculture production, agriculture credit, and rural development to underserved farmers, ranchers or forest landowners.Over the duration of the project, agricultural producers will be engaged in a number of project activities, events, and learning opportunities specifically designed to increase their involvement in USDA programs and services; capacity to implement sustainable farm initiatives; and the resilience to thrive amid climate and other risks to long-term viability. The design of this project supports the elimination of barriers to program access, incorporates strategies that can respond to the unique needs of HULOs, and maximizes areas of opportunity that exist to not only equip these agricultural producers with the farm management skills needed to equitably compete in agricultural markets but to produce sustainable enterprises.
Project Methods
In total, 2,260 individuals will have increased knowledge of HP resolution and sustainable forestry benefits. This will be accomplished through workshops, HP/Forestry seminars, informational packets, Woodlands Community Advocates (WCAs) and private consultations. Utilizing partner agencies who will present topics based on their specializations, customized technical assistance will also serve to ensure participating landowners (LOs) become comfortable working with professionals with whom they have not worked in the past. Topics may include: conservation easements, financial assistance, long leaf pine, business development and management, agriculture, financing options, wills/estates, forestry operations, tree farm certification, among other areas to assist in land management. A total of 40 HP/SFP seminars will be presented to interested LOs. These seminars will be conducted mainly by CHPP employees at venues throughout the service area.At these seminars, LOs are provided with a working understanding of the issues pertinent to owning heirs' property and the various strategies to achieve clear title to their land. This information has enabled the participants to make informed decisions about their land and has encouraged many heirs' property owners to take affirmative steps to protect their property. Of the participants, 210 LOs will have increased knowledge of HP resolution, farming benefits gained, land-based business, and housing rehabilitation programs. There will be at least 103 businesses created/MOAs signed, with technical assistance being provided to at least 18 LOs on land-based businesses/farming associations/cooperatives. The project will conduct 15 Forestry/Farming/Tax Planning Workshops and it is projected that at least 52 participants will be involved in one-on-one tax planning sessions. With assistance from local community leaders, WCAs, religious leaders, and others who will assist in arranging the venues and attendees, information will be presented on both legal and forestry/land management.CHPP will assist 11 families/landowners in developing communication/marketing plans for land-based businesses/farming associations/cooperatives. It is expected that WCAs will refer 213 LOs to CHPP to access title resolution and farming services and USDA programs. An additional 14 LOs will have increased participation on county FSA committees and forestry associations. CHPP will assist 52 LOs in applying for EQIP, CSP, and other USDA cost-share programs. There will be a total of 16 workshops conducted to educate landowners on non-agricultural USDA programs, with 320 LOs having increased their knowledge of non-agricultural USDA programs (32 of which will apply for these programs). At least 60 LOs will receive forestry/farming technical assistance. It is projected that 225 LOs will have increased knowledge of Forestry/Ag techniques, with at least 175 LOs completing the interest form to enter into the sustainable forestry program.Through this award, project staff will conduct at least 1,100 Title Resolution consultations and deliver legal technical assistance to 274 LOs, with at least 37 titles being resolved. At least 4 HP clinics and 12 Wills Clinics, with 240 Last Wills & Testament/Estate Plans being drafted for LOs. Through these clinics, at least 60 LOs will have increased knowledge of HP resolution, with 20 LOs completing Title Resolution consultations at HP clinics. The importance of providing access to a knowledgeable attorney with whom the community has established a bond and trust cannot be understated.To underscore the HP/SFP activities, at least 4 annual Landowner Symposia as well as 10 WCA Institutes will be held, of which 73 LOs will graduate as WCAs. These WCAs will partner with CHPP to further engage the community. We project to hold at least 4 focus groups with 40 LOs in attendance. The outcomes of these sessions will assist in informing future efforts to increase awareness, access and equity in participation of HP owners in USDA programs and services.