Deadline: 22-May-2022
The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is pleased to announce the 2022 Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) Program 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.
Priorities
- Water Quality: Water quality activities shall include projects that focus on innovative tools, technologies, and approaches that address the core conservation practices in any watershed in South Carolina.
- Soil Health: Proposals shall focus on projects that demonstrate innovative tools, technologies, and approaches to improve soil health on cropland and pastureland in any watershed in South Carolina.
- Climate-Smart Agriculture and Forestry: Proposals should demonstrate, apply, and evaluate innovative tools, technologies, and approaches that deliver on climate outcomes and decarbonization goals for the purpose of Greenhouse Gas emission reductions, carbon sequestration, and promotion of green energy.
Funding Information
- NRCS South Carolina expects to award approximately $500,000 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 30, 2022.
Eligibility Criteria
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 South Carolina. 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.
For more information, visit https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=338826