Mecosta Conservation District

What Mecosta Conservation District does

Mecosta Conservation District is a local government subdivision of the State of Michigan, established in 1948 under the Michigan Conservation District Act and headquartered at 18260 Northland Drive in Big Rapids, Michigan. The District's stated mission is to serve as the provider of natural resource management through education and technical assistance, and it operates with a small staff of 1–10 employees co-located with the federal Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) at the USDA Big Rapids Service Center. Its functional portfolio spans three integrated lines: (1) technical assistance and program administration, including free forestry site visits, Qualified Forest Program support, NRCS program facilitation (EQIP, CSP, Wetland Reserve Easements), Michigan On-Farm Produce Safety technical assistance across 13 counties, and administration of Michigan's Hunting Access Program with payments up to $25 per acre to enrolled landowners; (2) conservation services such as household hazardous waste and tire recycling collection events, equipment rental (Truax Flex II No-Till Drill and Uprooter/Weed Wrench), and North Country CISMA invasive species identification and strike-team services; and (3) a retail plant and seed shop selling bare-root trees, native wildflower quart pots and garden kits, conservation seed mixes, and planting supplies direct to consumers for pickup at designated locations. Revenue is not publicly disclosed and is generated through a mix of public funding (taxes, state and federal grants), program fees, small-ticket retail sales (trees $30–$64, plants $7, seed mixes $35–$127, event tickets $15, equipment rental $18 per 5-day period), and corporate donations such as the 2024 $5,000 Cargill grant for tree disease testing.

Name

Mecosta Conservation District

Legal name

Mecosta Conservation District

Website

https://mecostacd.org

Company type

Public

Founded year

1948

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Mecosta Conservation District is a Michigan local government subdivision, founded 1948, providing natural resource management, conservation education, and technical assistance to private landowners, growers, hunters, and county residents in Mecosta County and surrounding counties through co-located USDA service delivery.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Conservation Services

NAICS

Administration of Conservation Programs (92412), Forest Nurseries and Gathering of Forest Products (113210), Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting (11)

SIC

Agricultural Services (700), Forestry (800)

akta.pro primary industry

Wildlife, Biodiversity & Habitat Conservation Administration (BPAIAMAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Invasive Species Control & Site Restoration (Pre/Post Planting) (AFAMACAN), Site Assessment, Planning & Permitting (Reforestation Plans) (AFAMACAC), Invasive Species & Vegetation Management (Woody Plants) (HSAIADAI), Wildlife Control (Nuisance Animals) for Agricultural Operations (AFACAGAH)

Keywords

• Natural resource management
• Conservation district services
• Soil and water conservation
• Wildlife habitat restoration
• Invasive species management

Headquarters

HQ city

Big Rapids

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Mecosta Conservation District is a local government entity that provides natural resource management through education and technical assistance. It sells conservation nursery stock (trees, shrubs, native plants, seeds) through an online shop with pickup, rents specialized equipment (no-till drill, weed wrench), and delivers free or low-cost conservation programs including forestry site visits, FSMA produce safety compliance support, invasive species identification and treatment, household hazardous waste and tire recycling events, and a Hunting Access Program linking landowners to hunters.

Product overview

Mecosta Conservation District operates as a local government unit providing natural resource management through education and technical assistance. The organization offers a unified portfolio combining conservation products (trees, shrubs, native plants, seeds) with service programs (equipment rental, NRCS program assistance, forestry, produce safety, invasive species management, waste recycling, and hunting access). Products are sold directly through the organization's shop for pickup, while technical services are delivered through consultations, site visits, and community events. The core offering integrates nursery stock sales with conservation expertise to support landowners in habitat restoration, sustainable agriculture, and environmental stewardship.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Trees & Shrubs

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNRCS is a federal agency and valued partner of Mecosta Conservation District. Both organizations share office space at the USDA Big Rapids Service Center, fostering collaboration on local conservation efforts. NRCS offers financial assistance for conservation practices and both organizations provide technical assistance tailored to landowner goals.
• USDA Big Rapids Service CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConservation District and NRCS co-located at this federal service center, enabling integrated service delivery to local landowners and streamlined access to conservation programs.
• North Country Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area (NCCISMA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNCCISMA acts as an umbrella organization bringing together diverse partners to collaborate on programs combating invasive species. The organization empowers people to address invasive species through identification assistance, treatment guidance, demonstrations, and a strike team for hire program.
• Michigan State University ExtensionsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerMSU Extension is listed as a resource connection for landowners, providing research-based information and educational programs supporting conservation efforts.
• Pheasant's ForeversupportingOthersSeed supplier for Mecosta Conservation District's seed program, providing Pheasant's Forever Seed for Pollinators, Wildlife, and Restoration mixes.
• Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerMDARD oversees the Qualified Forest Program and Produce Safety Program, working with the Conservation District to support landowners and growers in Michigan.

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• The Nature Conservancy (Michigan Chapter): Conservation NGO with significant Michigan operations focused on land preservation, forestry, and habitat restoration. Adjacent mission and landowner engagement model, though operating at larger scale and private nonprofit rather than public district model.
• Pheasants Forever: National wildlife habitat organization that supplies seed products (Pheasants Forever Seed for Pollinators, Wildlife, Restoration) to Mecosta CD and operates similar conservation delivery programs focused on grassland and pollinator habitat overlapping with Mecosta CD's seed mix business.
• Ducks Unlimited: Major wetland and grassland conservation organization with overlapping mission on habitat restoration, native seed mixes, and landowner engagement. Comparable on the wildlife habitat side of Mecosta CD's forestry and seed programs.

Regional players

• Michigan United Conservation Clubs (MUCC): Statewide Michigan conservation and hunting advocacy organization operating the Hunting Access Program framework since 1977 that Mecosta CD locally implements. Comparable mission on hunting access and wildlife management, complementary rather than directly competitive.

Broad incumbents

• National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD): National umbrella organization for the U.S. conservation district network, of which Mecosta CD is a member. Sets policy direction, federal advocacy, and program frameworks that Mecosta CD executes locally.
• Michigan Association of Conservation Districts (MACD): State-level umbrella organization for Michigan's 75 conservation districts including Mecosta CD (note the @macd.org email domain). Provides coordination, advocacy, and shared services, and is the broader incumbent that Mecosta CD sits within.

Others

• Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD): State agency partner that oversees the Qualified Forest Program and Produce Safety Program implemented locally by Mecosta CD. Acts as program sponsor and regulator rather than direct peer, but materially relevant to Mecosta CD's service mandate.

Direct peers

• Ionia Conservation District: Michigan conservation district offering the same suite of conservation services including tree sales, NRCS co-location, equipment rental, and natural resource management to landowners in Ionia County. Directly comparable structure and mandate.
• Ottawa Conservation District: Adjacent Michigan conservation district providing identical programs including tree/plant sales, native plant sales, NRCS partnership, and forestry assistance. Directly comparable as a county-level Michigan conservation district serving a similar rural/agricultural constituency.
• Kent Conservation District: Michigan-based conservation district in neighboring Kent County offering the same portfolio of plant sales, forestry assistance, equipment rental, invasive species, HHW collection, and NRCS co-location. Operates as a direct peer with identical mandate under the Michigan Conservation District Act.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/MecostaConservationDistrict
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mecosta-conservation-district

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Mecosta Conservation District