Natural Resources Conservation Service: Conservation Innovation Grant

Deadline: 14 April 2017

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), an agency under the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), is seeking applications for its Conservation Innovation Grant (CIG) to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies.

CIG promotes sharing of skills, knowledge, technologies, and facilities among communities, governments, and other institutions to ensure that scientific and technological developments are accessible to a wider range of users. CIG funds projects targeting innovative on-the-ground conservation, including pilot projects and field demonstrations. CIG does not fund research projects, with the exception of on-farm conservation research.

Innovative Conservation Projects or Activities

For the purposes of CIG, the proposed innovative project or activity must promote environmental protection or natural resources enhancement, and encompass development and pilot field testing, on-farm research and demonstration, evaluation, and/or implementation of:

Conservation adoption incentive systems, including market-based systems; or
Promising conservation technologies, practices, systems, procedures, or approaches.

Projects or activities under CIG must comply with all Federal, State, and local regulations throughout the duration of the project and:

Make use of proven technology or a technology that has been studied sufficiently to indicate a high probability for success;
Demonstrate, evaluate, or verify environmental (soil, water, air, plants, energy and animal) effectiveness, utility, affordability, and usability of conservation technology in the field;
Adapt conservation technologies, management, practices, systems, procedures, approaches, and incentive systems to improve performance, and encourage adoption,
Introduce conservation systems, approaches, and procedures from another geographic area or agricultural sector; or
Demonstrate transferability of knowledge.

Funding Information

Estimated Total Program Funding: $135,000
Award Ceiling: $75,000

Eligibility Criteria

Small businesses
State governments
Individuals
Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
For profit organizations other than Small businesses
Private institutions of higher education
Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
Special district governments
City or township governments
County governments
Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)