USDA RFA and Webinar for Conservation Innovation Grants

December 19, 2017 Deirdre White

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USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has announced a Request for Applications (RFA) for its Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) program. NRCS is making $10 million available through CIG this year to fund innovative ideas for conservation strategies and technologies. The three focus areas for grant funding include grazing lands, organic systems, and soil health. Grant proposals are due February 26, 2018.

CIG is authorized and funded under the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). Projects can last up to three years and the maximum award amount for any project this year is $2 million. Since 2004, NRCS has invested nearly $286.7 million in more than 700 projects focused on providing farmers and ranchers new techniques, data and decision-making tools for improving natural resources conservation on their land, that can also help improve drinking water quality. All U.S. based entities and individuals are invited to apply, except for Federal agencies. Up to 20 percent of CIG funds will be set aside for proposals from historically underserved producers, veteran farmers or ranchers or groups serving these customers.

Webinar for Potential Applicants

Date: Thursday, January 11, 2018
Time: 4:00 pm (eastern).
Log in: At the time of the webinar, log in HERE.

To view the announcement, application materials, and submission procedures, go to: www.grants.gov. For more information, read the news release. For questions, contact Laura Crowell of USDA at laura.crowell@ia.usda.gov or 515-323-2207.