Johnson County Soil and Water Conservation District

What Johnson County Soil and Water Conservation District does

Johnson County Soil and Water Conservation District is a political subdivision of the State of Indiana, headquartered at 550 E Jefferson St Suite 202, Franklin, Indiana, that delivers soil and water conservation programs to Johnson County residents. The District is operated by a small staff of two — Director Kathy Haste and Assistant Director & Education Coordinator Blair Beavers — overseen by a five-member Board of Directors (Kevin Thompson as Chairman, Joe Bill Misiniec as Vice Chairman, and members Andy Duckworth, Chris Campbell, and Jim Risch). Its mission centers on invasive species identification and removal, native plant restoration, and conservation education for private landowners, schoolchildren, and adult learners.

The District's product portfolio is structured as a set of community-facing programs rather than commercial offerings. Core programs include the Johnson County Native Plant Partnership (JoCo NPP), which coordinates landowner surveys and invasive species management plans; the Strike Team and Weed Wrangle volunteer workdays (the latter having removed approximately 16,500 square feet of invasive species from Johnson County Park since 2018); the Indiana Master Naturalist course (8-month, capped at 15 students per cohort); the Pear Tree Free program (Callery Pear removal with native replacement); Rooting for Native Plants (Clean Water Indiana-funded native plant plugs); the Little Native Seed Library Trail across 7 county locations; the Branching Out fifth-grade native tree seedling program; and recurring monthly landowner surveys conducted April through October. No proprietary technology systems are deployed; delivery is field-based via staff, volunteers, and partner organizations.

Funding flows from a mix of state and local government appropriations, grants from Clean Water Indiana and Duke Energy for specific programs, and negligible Master Naturalist registration fees. The District does not sell services commercially; nearly all programs are free to Johnson County residents. Distribution occurs through direct in-person services at the Franklin office, recurring volunteer events, the 7-location Seed Library Trail, and referral channels through Johnson County Parks, Purdue Extension, Franklin College, the Johnson County Public Library, and other community partners. The operating model is community-led and event-driven, with no revenue motive beyond sustaining programmatic capacity.

Name

Johnson County Soil and Water Conservation District

Legal name

Johnson County Soil and Water Conservation District

Website

https://jocoswcd.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Johnson County Soil and Water Conservation District is a State of Indiana political subdivision based in Franklin, Indiana, delivering invasive species removal, native plant restoration, and conservation education programs to county residents via landowner surveys, volunteer events, and partner-hosted library and school programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Conservation Services

NAICS

Administration of Conservation Programs (92412), Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (9241)

akta.pro primary industry

Land Trusts & Protected Areas (BPAGAGAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Invasive Species & Vegetation Management (Woody Plants) (HSAIADAI), Native, Pollinator & Drought-Tolerant Garden Installations (HSAIAFAL)

Keywords

• Soil water conservation
• Invasive species management
• Native plant restoration
• Landowner conservation surveys
• Conservation education programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Franklin

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: Government-funded conservation district receiving appropriations from state and local sources to support soil and water conservation programs.
2. Grant Funding: Grant funding from organizations such as Clean Water Indiana and Duke Energy to support specific programs like Pear Tree Free and Rooting for Native Plants.
3. Program Registration Fees: Master Naturalist program charges registration fees. Cash or check accepted; fee returned if space unavailable or if student withdraws before first session.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Johnson County Soil and Water Conservation District is a state-chartered local government subdivision that delivers soil and water conservation programs to Johnson County, Indiana residents. Core offerings center on invasive species management (Strike Team, Weed Wrangle, Pear Tree Free), native plant restoration (Rooting for Native Plants, Little Native Seed Library Trail), and conservation education (Indiana Master Naturalist course, Branching Out fifth-grade program), supplemented by free landowner property surveys that produce written Invasive Species Management Plans.

Product overview

Johnson County Soil and Water Conservation District operates as a community-focused conservation organization offering multiple interconnected programs. The core offerings include the Johnson County Native Plant Partnership (JoCo NPP) which coordinates invasive species removal through Strike Team and Weed Wrangle volunteer events; the Little Native Seed Library Trail featuring seven self-guided library locations; landowner survey services with management plans; and educational programs including the Indiana Master Naturalist course. Additional programs include Pear Tree Free (invasive Callery Pear removal with native replacements), Rooting for Native Plants, and the Branching Out youth tree program. The District also facilitates event RSVPs and newsletter subscriptions to engage the community in conservation activities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Johnson County Native Plant Partnership (JoCo NPP) A partnership program that supports stewardship of local lands and waters by reducing the impact of invasive species through landowner surveys, invasive species management plans, and volunteer events for Johnson County residents.
• Pear Tree Free A program sponsored by JoCo NPP, Duke Energy, and Johnson County SWCD that encourages residents to remove Callery Pear (Bradford Pear) trees from their property and provides a free native tree or shrub replacement upon completion.
• Indiana Master Naturalist Program (Johnson County) An educational program delivered locally that provides hands-on training about Hoosier natural resources through resource professionals and experts, culminating in volunteer service partnerships with conservation organizations.
• Rooting for Native Plants A Clean Water Indiana-sponsored program that provides landowner surveys, invasive species management plans, and free native plant plugs to Johnson County residents selected to incorporate native plants into their landscaping.
• Little Native Seed Library Trail A self-guided trail featuring seven Little Native Seed Libraries at partner locations across Johnson County that distribute native seed packets, starter packets, observation journals, and educational resources about native plants and pollinators.
• Landowner Surveys Free property surveys conducted by JoCo NPP on the first Thursday of each month from April to October, identifying invasive species, recommending native species, and producing a written Invasive Species Management Plan for the landowner.
• Strike Team Monthly volunteer workdays (May through September) focused on removing woody invasive species from public land in Johnson County parks and natural areas, organized by the Johnson County Native Plant Partnership.
• Weed Wrangle Events Annual spring and fall volunteer events educating landowners on invasive species identification, management, and removal best practices, followed by hands-on removal activities in Johnson County.
• Branching Out Program A program offering free native tree seedlings to all Johnson County fifth graders to plant at their home, school, or a relative's house, promoting conservation awareness among youth.

Quantifiable outcome

• 16,500 sq ft of invasive species removed from Johnson County Park
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

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

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Johnson County Parks & RecreationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners on Strike Team events and Weed Wrangles at Johnson County Park. McClain Cabin site features native plant landscaping. Park hosts Little Native Seed Library location.
• Purdue Extension - Johnson CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners on Rain & Drains Little Native Seed Library location at their office. Provides educational programming on rain gardens and water conservation.
• Franklin CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudents grow native plant plugs for the Rooting for Native Plants program. Hosts What are Wetlands? Little Native Seed Library at Science Center. Class venue for Master Naturalist program.
• Johnson County Public LibrarysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosts Benefits to Birds Little Native Seed Library at Trafalgar Branch with half-mile prairie trail and StoryWalk.
• Indiana Native Plant SocietysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization supporting native plant conservation efforts and education in Johnson County.
• Southern Indiana Cooperative Invasives Management (SICIM)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional cooperative working on invasive species management; provides resources and expertise for Johnson County invasive species efforts.
• The Nature ConservancysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerConservation organization partner supporting invasive species management and native plant restoration initiatives.
• Indiana Department of Natural ResourcessupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency partner supporting Indiana Master Naturalist program and general conservation efforts.
• Indiana Master Naturalist ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide program delivered locally by Johnson County SWCD. Class runs March-October, second Thursday each month, 6-9pm.
• Greenwood Stormwater DepartmentsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosts Plants & Pollinators Little Native Seed Library location at Greenwood Public Library parking lot.
• Indiana Invasive Species CouncilsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization addressing invasive species issues in Indiana through collaborative management efforts.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Indiana Native Plant Society: Statewide nonprofit promoting native plant gardening, conservation, and education. A documented partner of Johnson County SWCD, with overlapping audiences and program content around native landscaping and invasive species.
• Southern Indiana Cooperative Invasives Management (SICIM): Regional cooperative that coordinates invasive species management across southern Indiana counties. Operates in the same technical domain (invasive species removal) and is a current partner of Johnson County SWCD.

Direct peers

• Shelby County Soil and Water Conservation District: Indiana county SWCD delivering the same suite of conservation, education, and native plant programs in a rural county context. Directly comparable structure and funding model.
• Marion County Soil and Water Conservation District: Indiana county-level SWCD serving the Indianapolis area with landowner assistance, conservation programs, and educational outreach. Same legal structure, same state funding ecosystem, and overlap with Johnson's Master Naturalist and invasive species programming.
• Hendricks County Soil and Water Conservation District: Adjacent Indiana county SWCD with comparable conservation programs, stormwater partnerships, and landowner survey services. Comparable scale and program scope to Johnson County SWCD.
• Hamilton County Soil and Water Conservation District: Neighboring Indiana county-level SWCD providing the same suite of conservation services (landowner surveys, native plant programs, Master Naturalist, invasive species management). Functionally identical in mission, governance structure, and program design, making it the most direct comparable to Johnson County SWCD.

Broad incumbents

• Indiana Department of Natural Resources: State agency overseeing Indiana's natural resources, including the statewide Master Naturalist program from which Johnson County SWCD delivers its local course. Operates a much broader mandate but intersects directly on conservation education and habitat management.
• The Nature Conservancy (Indiana Chapter): Large national conservation nonprofit with active Indiana operations focused on land protection, habitat restoration, and invasive species work. Listed as a partner and provides resources and expertise that Johnson's local programs draw on.

Others

• Indiana Invasive Species Council: Statewide coordinating body addressing invasive species management in Indiana. Functions as a policy and technical resource network that Johnson County SWCD draws on for its Strike Team and Weed Wrangle programming.
• Purdue Extension - Johnson County: Local extension office of Purdue University that partners with Johnson County SWCD on rain garden education, Seed Library Trail locations, and youth programming. Provides complementary agricultural and natural resource expertise.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/JoCoNPP
• Instagraminstagram.com/joconpp
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/jocoswcd

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 Johnson County Soil and Water Conservation District