Vermont Conservation Innovation Grants

The summary for the Vermont 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.
Vermont 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 policy, technical manuals, references, 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 opportunities 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 and field demonstrations. CIG does not fund research projects, with the exception of on-farm conservation research. On-farm conservation research is defined as an investigation conducted to answer a specified 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 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 Vermont. Eligible entities include federally recognized Indian Tribes, state and local units of government, non-governmental organizations, legal entities, and individuals. Applications must have a direct nexus to the state of Vermont and include an entity from Vermont as part of the project management.

Proposals will be screened for completeness and compliance with the provisions of this notice. Incomplete and/or noncompliant proposals will be eliminated from competition, and notification of elimination will be sent to the applicant. Complete proposals received by applicable deadlines will be evaluated by a technical peer review panel based on the Proposal Evaluation Criteria identified in the instructions in section V.B.

Scored applications will be forwarded to the Vermont State Conservationist who will make the final award selections. The State Conservationist reserves the right to not fund any or all proposals.
Federal Grant Title: Vermont 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-VT-CIG-16-01
Type of Funding: Grant
CFDA Numbers: 320857
CFDA Descriptions: Environmental Quality Incentives Program
Current Application Deadline: Jun 3, 2016
Original Application Deadline: Jun 3, 2016
Posted Date: Apr 11, 2016
Creation Date: Apr 8, 2016
Archive Date: Jul 3, 2016
Total Program Funding: $415,000
Maximum Federal Grant Award: $75,000
Minimum Federal Grant Award: $0
Expected Number of Awards: 30
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
Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities
State governments
Special district governments
Small businesses
County governments
Private institutions of higher education
Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
City or township governments
Individuals
Link to Full Grant Announcement
NRCS Vermont CIG Homepage
Grant Announcement Contact
Robert Kort, VT State CIG Prgm Mgr. USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, 356 Mountain View Drive Suite 105, Colchester, VT 05446 Phone: (802) 951-6796 x233 Fax: (855) 794-3677
VT CIG Program Contact

Natural Resources Conservation Service 202.720.2604