The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is seeking applications for the Conservation Innovation Grants Program to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies in conjunction with agricultural production.
Donor Name: Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)
State: Connecticut
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 04/29/2022
Size of the Grant: $245,000
Grant Duration: 3 years
Details:
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.
Priorities
- Resilient local and regional food – Projects should propose innovative conservation approaches to combat the climate crisis and conserve and protect the nation’s lands, biodiversity and natural resources including the soil, air and water.
-
Climate-smart strategies – Projects should propose innovative conservation approaches that increase environmental benefits while dealing with climate induced changes.
-
Soil health for climate mitigation, adaptation, and resilience – Projects should explore innovative approaches to push the boundaries and knowledge of the complex interactions between climate change and soil health and must address either carbon sequestration or climate resilience.
-
Nutrient management adoption to meet watershed or regional water quality goals – Projects should apply promising nutrient management practices and technologies that result in the measurable reduction of excess nutrients over time on a watershed scale by implementing innovative technologies and approaches.
-
Increasing conservation adoption – Projects should seek to increase the pace and scale of conservation adoption on working lands to sufficiently address persistent natural resource challenges.
Funding Information
- NRCS Connecticut expects to award approximately $245,000 through this opportunity.
- Projects may be between 1 and 3 years in duration. Applicants should plan their projects based on an estimated project start date of September 15, 2022.
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 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.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants and applications must meet eligibility criteria by the application deadline to be considered for award. The eligible applicant type is determined by the implementing program statute. All U.S.-based non-Federal entities (NFE) and individuals, with the exception of Federal agencies, are eligible to apply for projects carried out in Connecticut. The following entity types are eligible:
- City or township governments
- County governments
- For-profit organizations other than small businesses
- Independent school districts
- Individuals
- Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
- Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)
- Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS (other than institutions of higher education)
- Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c)(3) status with the IRS (other than institutions of higher education)
- Private institutions of higher education
- Public and State-controlled institutions of higher education
- Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities
- Small businesses
- Special district governments
- State governments
For more information, visit Grants.gov.
