Deadline: 18-Jun-21
U.S. Department of Agriculture – Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), is announcing the availability of Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) funding to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies.
Applications are accepted from eligible entities for projects that reflect a clear understanding of and alignment with soil health issues in Virginia.
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 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.
Preferred projects will focus on one or both of the following:
- assessment of soil health / dynamic soil properties in an agronomic context or
- integrated conservation agronomy – systems-level integration of soil health with one or more other conservation-related agronomy disciplines such as nutrient management.
Funding Information
- Estimated Funding: The total amount of Federal funding the agency expects to award through this opportunity is $300,000.
- Start Dates and Performance: Periods 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, 2021.
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 Virginia. All non-federal entities (NFE) and individuals are invited to apply, with the sole exception of federal agencies.
- Eligible applicants include:
- Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
- Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities
- City or township governments
- Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)
- Independent school districts
- Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
- Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
- Small businesses
- Individuals
- Private institutions of higher education
- For profit organizations other than Small businesses
- Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
- County governments
- State governments
- Special district governments
- All CIG projects must involve EQIP-eligible producers that meet EQIP’s eligibility requirements:
- Be in compliance with the highly erodible land and wetland conservation provisions.
- Be a person, legal entity, joint operation, Indian tribe, or native corporation who is engaged in agricultural production or forestry management or has an interest in the agricultural or forestry operation.
- Have control of the land involved for the term of the proposed contract period.
- Any award made pursuant to this NFO will be made to a single entity. Applicants that apply as “partnerships” or other similar groupings must clearly describe the relationship between the applicant and the “partner” parties.
For more information, visit https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=332980