Sussex Conservation District

What Sussex Conservation District does

Sussex Conservation District (SCD) is a local governmental conservation district established in 1944 under Delaware's enabling act, headquartered in Georgetown, Delaware. It operates three core service lines: Agricultural Conservation (cost-share programs for cover crops, conservation planning, and soil health initiatives through the Delaware Soil Health Partnership); Stormwater Management (serving since 1991 as the delegated authority for Delaware Sediment and Stormwater Regulations, providing plan review, permitting, and inspection services for projects disturbing 5,000+ square feet); and a Heavy Equipment Program providing tax ditch maintenance, drainage installation, pond construction, and restoration services across Sussex and Kent counties. The organization is governed by a Board of Supervisors and led by District Coordinator Tyler Brown with directors across operations, agriculture, stormwater, heavy equipment, and finance.

SCD's technology stack centers on a proprietary GIS-based coastal migration mapping tool developed with the Delaware Center for the Inland Bays, a heavy equipment fleet, and digital plan submittal portals. The entity does not sell commercial products; rather, it administers public programs funded through Delaware General Assembly appropriations (via the Department of Agriculture Nutrient Management Commission, DNREC, and Sussex County Council) and federal USDA/NRCS and Farm Service Agency programs. Fee-based revenue is generated from sediment and stormwater plan review, pipe sales, and ancillary services per published fee schedules.

The customer base spans agricultural producers (farmers, landowners, tax ditch organizations covering 135+ organizations and 340,000 acres), developers and contractors requiring stormwater approvals, homeowners and HOAs participating in the Community Conservation Assistance Program, and coastal landowners engaged in sea level rise adaptation. Marketing and outreach are conducted through social media, monthly newsletters, annual Soil Health Field Days, public Board meetings, and a Featured Cooperator program that highlights agricultural partners.

Name

Sussex Conservation District

Legal name

Sussex Conservation District

Website

https://sussexconservation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1944

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Sussex Conservation District is a Georgetown, Delaware-based local government entity, established 1944, that delivers agricultural conservation, stormwater regulatory, and heavy equipment services to farmers, developers, and residents of Sussex and Kent counties.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Conservation Services

NAICS

Support Activities for Forestry (11531)

SIC

Agricultural Services (700)

akta.pro primary industry

Conservation, Restoration & Biodiversity Services (Habitat, Wetlands, Riparian) (IMAMAJAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Watershed Protection & Water Quality Services (AFAMAMAB), Conservation Easements & Land Trust Services (AFAMAMAH)

Keywords

• Agricultural conservation services
• Stormwater management regulation
• Soil health programs
• Tax ditch maintenance
• Sediment erosion control

Headquarters

HQ city

Georgetown

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: SCD receives funding from Delaware General Assembly through Delaware Department of Agriculture Nutrient Management Commission, Delaware DNREC Non-Point Source Program and Chesapeake Bay Programs, and Sussex County Council for conservation cost-share programs.
2. Federal USDA/NRCS Programs: Funding from USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and Farm Service Agency for conservation programs including CREP, EQIP, and coastal migration planning initiatives.
3. Fee-Based Services: Revenue from plan review fees, standard plan applications, sediment and stormwater permits, pipe sales, and other service fees per published fee schedules.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Sussex Conservation District delivers conservation, stormwater, agriculture, and land management services across Sussex and Kent Counties in Delaware through three core divisions: Agricultural Conservation (cost-share funding, soil health programs, cover crop incentives), Stormwater Management (plan review, permitting, and inspections as the delegated authority for Delaware Sediment and Stormwater Regulations), and Heavy Equipment (tax ditch maintenance, drainage improvements, restoration work, and pipe sales). Services are delivered directly to farmers, landowners, developers, contractors, tax ditch organizations, and municipalities using in-house staff and equipment.

Product overview

Sussex Conservation District provides a comprehensive suite of conservation, stormwater, agriculture, and land management services across Sussex County, Delaware. The organization operates three core service divisions: Agricultural Conservation (including Cost Share Programs, Conservation Planning, and Soil Health initiatives), Stormwater Management (encompassing Design & Permitting, Construction & Developers services, and Residential Standard Plans), and Heavy Equipment (providing Restoration Work, Tax Ditch Maintenance, Private Land Management, and ancillary services). Additional programs include the Community Conservation Assistance Program (CCAP) offering up to 75% cost-share for homeowners, the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP), and Source Water Protection Area incentives providing up to 90% cost-share for qualifying farms. The district also manages an Equipment Program serving Kent and Sussex counties for tax ditch maintenance and drainage projects.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Agricultural Conservation Program Core agriculture service providing technical and financial assistance to Sussex County farmers through cost-share funding for cover crops and best management practices, plus soil health outreach and education.
• Stormwater Management Program Statutory regulatory service reviewing plans, performing inspections, and providing technical assistance for projects disturbing 5,000+ square feet under Delaware Sediment and Stormwater Regulations.
• Heavy Equipment Program

Quantifiable outcome

• 193,000+ acres enrolled in cover crop program (FY27)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Delaware Association of Conservation Districts (DACD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState-level organization representing Delaware's three conservation districts. DACD logo displayed as organizational partner on SCD About page.
• National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational organization supporting conservation districts. NACD Soil Health Champions program utilized by SCD cooperators. NACD logo displayed on SCD About page.
• USDA (United States Department of Agriculture)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary federal partner providing funding through NRCS and Farm Service Agency. USDA logo displayed on SCD About page. Funding partner for coastal migration planning, CREP, EQIP, and other conservation programs.
• Delaware Center for the Inland BayscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to develop coastal migration planning GIS mapping tool identifying parcels vulnerable to sea level rise. Collaborated on geographic information system mapping tool for tidal marsh areas.
• USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal agency providing technical and financial assistance for conservation practices. Partner in coastal migration planning, CREP program, and Conservation Stewardship Program. Provides EQIP funding for farmers.
• USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal partner in CREP program administration. Works with SCD on conservation reserve enhancement for Delaware agricultural land.
• Delaware Department of AgriculturecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency providing funding through Nutrient Management Commission for cover crop and tax ditch cost-share programs.
• Delaware DNREC (Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState environmental agency providing Non-Point Source Program and Chesapeake Bay Program funding. Partner in CREP and source water protection initiatives.
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife ServiceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal partner in coastal migration and conservation planning efforts for landowners.
• Delaware Wild LandsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal nonprofit partner for conservation opportunities and farmland/wetland easements.
• The Nature ConservancyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational conservation nonprofit partner for conservation opportunities and easements.
• Sussex County Land TrustminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal land trust partner for conservation easements and preservation efforts.
• Delaware Soil Health PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSCD spearheaded creation of this partnership in 2014 to provide soil health workshops and field days. Provides outreach and education for farmers on soil health management practices.
• UD Cooperative ExtensioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partner providing technical assistance, educational programs, and research support. SCD board includes Extension representative. Partners on stormwater workshops and conservation planning.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Kent Conservation District: Delaware's other county-level conservation district, providing the same agriculture conservation, stormwater plan review, and cost-share services in Kent County. SCD's heavy equipment program already serves Kent and Sussex jointly, demonstrating direct operational overlap.
• New Castle Conservation District: Third Delaware conservation district operating under the same state enabling act and serving New Castle County. Performs the same core functions: agricultural cost-share, sediment/stormwater review delegation, and conservation planning.

Regional players

• Maryland Association of Soil Conservation Districts: State-level association of Maryland's conservation districts, mirroring the Delaware/DACD structure. Comparable to SCD's peer districts but operating in a neighboring state with similar Chesapeake Bay watershed priorities.
• Pennsylvania State Conservation Commission: State-level body overseeing Pennsylvania's 66 county conservation districts. Performs an analogous administrative and oversight role to SCD's relationship with Delaware DDA, but at state scale.
• Virginia Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts: Virginia's statewide association of soil and water conservation districts. Comparable in mission and structure to SCD's DACD affiliation, serving the same Chesapeake Bay watershed with similar agricultural conservation priorities.

Broad incumbents

• USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS): Federal agency that funds and partners with SCD through EQIP, CREP, and Conservation Stewardship Programs. While NRCS operates nationally and across all conservation districts, it provides overlapping technical and financial assistance for the same farmer/landowner base.

Others

• Chesapeake Bay Foundation: Regional nonprofit focused on Chesapeake Bay watershed restoration. SCD is a DNREC-funded partner through Chesapeake Bay Programs; both organizations target the same Sussex County farmers and waterways for nutrient and sediment reduction.
• The Nature Conservancy: National conservation nonprofit identified as a SCD partner for conservation easements and preservation efforts. Operates adjacent to SCD's coastal migration planning and land protection work in Sussex County.
• National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD): National umbrella organization supporting all U.S. conservation districts, including SCD's Soil Health Champions program and federal advocacy. Functions as SCD's industry association rather than a direct competitor.
• Delaware Center for the Inland Bays: Regional environmental organization that co-developed SCD's coastal migration GIS mapping tool. Partnered on tidal marsh protection and sea level rise planning for the same coastal landowner base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SCD_DE
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCJctxUTGvc0L3y3cC3igJQg
• Facebookfacebook.com/181729038646861
• Instagraminstagram.com/sussexconservation
• TikToktiktok.com/@sussexconservation?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sussex-conservation-district

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 Sussex Conservation District