Deadline: 16-Mar-25
The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), an agency under the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is seeking support from natural resource conservation partners to work together to help enhance conservation delivery in the State of Mississippi.
Objectives
- Conservation partners are invited to apply for NRCS assistance with projects focused on the following key conservation objectives:
- Climate Smart Agriculture: To provide technical assistance, outreach and education to landowners on innovative ways to assist with transforming agri‐food systems towards climate resilient practices. Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) is an integrated approach to managing cropland, pastureland, forestland, and fisheries that address the challenges of food security and climate change. It aims to tackle three main objectives: sustainably increasing agricultural productivity and incomes; adapting and building resilience to climate change; and reducing and/or removing greenhouse gas emissions across Mississippi; determine key partners and other potential target audiences that share the Climate Smart mission and determine the impact of current outreach/educational efforts.
- Easement Program Technical Assistance: Provide technical assistance to private landowners seeking to participate in NRCS easement programs, such as the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program‐Wetland Reserve Easements (ACEP‐WRE). Added staff capacity will provide technical assistance addressing critical conservation needs such as, but not limited to, program education and outreach, servicing applications‐eligibility and ranking, development of wetland restoration plans, easement acquisition services including title and closing service and survey procurement and review, easement management and follow‐up, assisting with assessment and development of compatible use authorizations, and easement monitoring.
- Conservation Outreach: Promote public awareness of NRCS programs such as soil health, sustainable agricultural practices and best forestry management conservation practices; and increase participation in NRCS programs and services by socially disadvantaged, limited resource, women, veterans and beginning farmers and ranchers in Mississippi.
- Organic and Specialty Workshops: Provide learning opportunities to educate agricultural producers who are following or considering the use of organics or transitioning to organic cropping systems for vegetables, fruits, specialty crops, produce and non‐traditional agricultural production efforts in Mississippi. Examples include: voluntary landowner supported efforts to educate producers about implementation of organic farming techniques and improve understanding of organic labeling, marketing and production benefits.
Funding Information
- Estimated Total Program Funding: $8,000,000
- Award Ceiling: $999,999
- Award Floor: $50,000
- Applicants should propose projects between 1 and 5 years in duration. Plan projects based on an estimated project start date of September 1, 2025.
Eligible Activities
- The agency will be substantially involved in the work performed under the agreement and will undertake activities such as the following:
- Authority to suspend work if specifications or work statements are not met.
- Review and approval of one stage of work before another may begin.
- Review and approval of substantive provisions of proposed subawards or contracts beyond existing Federal policy.
- Agency and recipient collaboration or joint participation.
- Project monitoring to permit specified kinds of direction or redirection of the work because of interrelationships with and impacts on other projects.
- Review and approval of key personnel.
- Direct agency operational involvement or participation during the activity.
Eligibility Criteria
- The following entity types are eligible to apply
- City or township governments
- County governments
- Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
- 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
- Small businesses
- Special district governments
- State governments
Ineligibility Criteria
- The following applicants are considered ineligible:
- Foreign organizations and foreign public entities
- “Partnerships” or other similar groupings (i.e., application must be submitted by a single entity; a partner may serve as a subrecipient).
- Individuals
Application Requirements
- The following instructions are in addition to those included in Application Guide:
- The Project Narrative must not exceed 5 pages. This page limitation applies to the project narrative only.
- Project Summary/Abstract (2 page maximum). Submit a description including the information below:
- Project title
- Project director(s)/contact name(s) and contact(s) information (email and telephone number
- Project objectives (purpose and goals)
- Project geographic area/location (where application activities will take place)
- Project proposed activities
- Project deliverables and benefits
- Project Description (5 page maximum).
- Include the following information:
- Project background: Describe the issue or problem. Include the geographic area and those who will be affected and benefit from this project.
- Project objectives and methods: Be specific using qualitative and quantitative measures, if possible, to describe the projects purpose and goals.
- Project action plan and timeline: Provide a list of project actions, timeframes, and associated milestones through project completion.
- Geographic location and size of project or project area: Identify the geographic location and the relative size and scope (e.g., acres, farm types, demographics, etc.) of the project area.
- Project management: Give a detailed description of how the project will be organized and managed, including a list/description of project partners. Include a list of key technical and administrative personnel, their relevant education or experience, and their anticipated contributions to the project. Resumes and Curriculum.
- Vitae are not required, and if submitted will count towards the 5‐page maximum.
- Project deliverables/products: Provide a list of specific deliverables and products that will allow NRCS to monitor progress and payment.
- Benefits or results expected and transferability: Identify the results and benefits derived from the project. Identify project beneficiaries and explain how these entities will benefit. Describe how the results will be communicated to others and forecast the lasting impact of project results.
For more information, visit Grants.gov.