The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is announcing the availability of Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) State Program funding to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies.
Donor Name: Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)
State: All States
County: All Counties
U.S. Territories: American Samoa, Guam, Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 06/05/2023
Size of the Grant: $150,000
Grant Duration: 3 years
Details:
The purpose of CIG is to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies in conjunction with agricultural production. CIG projects are expected to lead to the transfer of conservation technologies, management systems, and innovative approaches (such as market-based systems) to agricultural producers, into government technical manuals and guides, or to the private sector. CIG generally funds pilot projects, field demonstrations, and on-farm conservation research. On-farm conservation research is defined as an investigation conducted to answer a specific applied conservation question using a statistically valid design while employing farm-scale equipment on farms, ranches, or private forest lands.
Innovative Conservation Projects or Activities
CIG funds the development and field testing, on-farm research and demonstration, evaluation, or implementation of:
- Approaches to incentivizing conservation adoption, including market-based and conservation finance approaches; and
- Conservation technologies, practices, and systems.
Projects or activities under CIG must comply with all applicable federal, tribal, state, and local laws and regulations throughout the duration of the project; and
- Use a technology or approach that was studied sufficiently to indicate a high probability for success;
- Demonstrate, evaluate, and verify the effectiveness, utility, affordability, and usability of natural resource conservation technologies and approaches in the field;
- Adapt and transfer conservation technologies, management, practices, systems, approaches, and incentive systems to improve performance and encourage adoption;
- Introduce proven conservation technologies and approaches to a geographic area or agricultural sector where that technology or approach is not currently in use.
CIG Priorities for FY 2023:
- Soil Health/Soil Quality
- Urban and Small Farms
- Climate Smart Ag and Forestry
- Wildlife
- Invasive Species
Funding Information
- Estimated Total Program Funding: $500,000
- Award Ceiling: $150,000
- Award Floor: $50,000
Performance Periods
Projects may be between 1 and 3 years in duration
Eligibility Criteria
- Special district governments
- Independent school districts
- Individuals
- Private institutions of higher education
- Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
- Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
- For profit organizations other than small businesses
- City or township governments
- Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
- County governments
- State governments
- Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
- Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities
- Small businesses
- Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) All U.S., American Samoa, Guam, and CNMI-based non-Federal entities (NFE)
All U.S., American Samoa, Guam, and CNMI-based non-Federal entities (NFE) and Individuals are eligible to apply for projects carried out in Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. US Federal agencies are not eligible to apply to this opportunity or impart their work to non-federal portion of the budget.
For more information, visit Grants.gov.
