Our Programs

The Senior Environmental Employment Program

In the 1970s, farsighted U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) staff recognized that experienced workers age 55 and over were extremely underrated. As a result, EPA created the concept of what was to become a national showcase for the skills of mid-career and older professionals who are now acknowledged as major players in a rapidly aging society.

The concept turned into reality in 1975 when EPA assigned a group of individuals age 55 and over to a pesticide inventory project in Iowa. A year later, EPA and the U.S. Administration on Aging funded a two-year demonstration project for workers to monitor industrial waste, conduct pesticide inventories, measure noise, air, and water pollution, and supply information to communities.

During the 1970s, and until 1984, national aging organizations carried out the demonstration project in each federal region and at EPA headquarters in Washington, DC. The success of the project created a demand for more experienced workers and won formal status when Congress approved, and President Reagan signed, the Environmental Programs Assistance Act of 1984 (PL 98-313). That law authorizes EPA to make grants, or enter into cooperative agreements, with private nonprofit organizations to place individuals age 55 and over in short-term assignments.

The Agricultural Conservation Experienced Services Program

In September 2008 the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) of the US Department of Agriculture established an older worker employment program (ages 55+) to provide technical assistance for its conservation operations around the country.  Called the Agricultural Conservation Experienced Services (ACES) Program, it is based on a three year pilot project NOWCC managed for NRCS that ended soon after a permanent program was authorized by the passage of the Farm Bill.  

The permanent ACES program is currently filling over 170 positions in 26 states and the District of Columbia – at the national offices of NRCS, and is expected to grow in the years ahead.  (The pilot started in 2005 with 30 positions in eight states and grew to over 200 positions in 34 states during the three years.)  Though NOWCC managed the earlier pilot, it has been joined by three other national organizations authorized to manage the ACES program with NRCS’ states operations.  These organizations will receive grants from the state offices and will recruit, enroll and support qualified older workers for technical or scientific responsibilities, many part-time, specified by the states.

Three years of valuable work by enrollees in diverse conservation projects during the pilot demonstrated to NRCS the value of experienced workers and paved the way for the successful launch of a permanent ACES program.  With roughly 2500 conservation districts across the country, the potential is virtually limitless for connecting interested and experienced workers with challenging and rewarding opportunities to help NRCS achieve its conversation goals.