Conservation Innovation Grants

The summary for the Conservation Innovation Grants grant is detailed below. This summary states who is eligible for the grant, how much grant money will be awarded, current and past deadlines, Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) numbers, and a sampling of similar government grants. Verify the accuracy of the data FederalGrants.com provides by visiting the webpage noted in the Link to Full Announcement section or by contacting the appropriate person listed as the Grant Announcement Contact. If any section is incomplete, please visit the website for the Natural Resources Conservation Service, which is the U.S. government agency offering this grant.
Conservation Innovation Grants: Overview:

The purpose of CIG is to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies, while leveraging the Federal investment in environmental enhancement and protection 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) into NRCS technical manuals and guides or to the private sector. CIG is used
to apply or demonstrate previously proven technology in order to increase adoption with an emphasis on oppmtunities to scale proven, emerging conservation strategies. 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, field demonstrations, and on-farm conservation research. On-farm conservation research is defined as an
investigation conducted to answer a specific conservation-related question using a statistically valid design, while employing farm-scale equipment on farm fields. Specifically, a valid study design will use an appropriate number of replications and statistical analysis of results. To the extent NRCS funds research projects through CIG, the agency will only fund on-farm research projects that stimulate innovative approaches to natural resource management in conjunction with agricultural production.

NRCS will accept proposals under this notice for single or multiyear projects, not to exceed three
years, submitted by eligible entities from any of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, the
Caribbean Area (Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands), or the Pacific Islands Area (Guam,
American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands). Eligible entities include Indian Tribes, State and local units of government, non-governmental organizations, and
individuals.

Complete proposals received by the deadline will be evaluated through a two-tier review process.
The first-tier review will be by a technical peer review panel based on the Proposal Evaluation
Criteria identified in the instructions in section V.B. For the second-tier review, full
proposals, along with their evaluations from the technical peer review and State Conservationist
,will be forwarded to the Grants Review Board. The Grants Review Board will make its
recommendations for project approval to the NRCS Chief who will make the final selections.
Federal Grant Title: Conservation Innovation Grants
Federal Agency Name: Natural Resources Conservation Service
Grant Categories: Agriculture Environment Natural Resources
Type of Opportunity: Discretionary
Funding Opportunity Number: USDA-NRCS-NHQ-CIG-16-01
Type of Funding: Grant
CFDA Numbers: 319485
CFDA Descriptions: Environmental Quality Incentives Program
Current Application Deadline: May 10, 2016
Original Application Deadline: May 10, 2016
Posted Date: Mar 7, 2016
Creation Date: Mar 7, 2016
Archive Date: May 31, 2016
Total Program Funding: $20,000,000
Maximum Federal Grant Award: $2,000,000
Minimum Federal Grant Award: $0
Expected Number of Awards: 75
Cost Sharing or Matching: Yes
Applicants Eligible for this Grant
Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
County governments
Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
State governments
For profit organizations other than small businesses
Small businesses
Individuals
Special district governments
Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
Private institutions of higher education
City or township governments
Link to Full Grant Announcement
NRCS CIG Homepage
Grant Announcement Contact
Frankie Comfort Grants & Agreements Specialist Phone 202-720-0242
Administrative Contact

Natural Resources Conservation Service 202.720.2604