USDA NRCS Notice of Funding Opportunity; Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) Classic Program (FY) 2022
OPPORTUNITY
The purpose of CIG is to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies in conjunction with agricultural production. CIG projects present innovations that are expected to result in the transfer of conservation technologies, management systems, and inventive approaches (such as market-based systems) to agricultural producers, into technical manuals and guides, and for practical use in the private sector. CIG generally funds pilot projects, field demonstrations, and on-farm conservation research. On-farm conservation research is defined as an investigation conducted to answer a specific applied conservation question using a statistically valid design while employing farm-scale equipment on farms, ranches, or private forest lands.
DESCRIPTION
For FY 2022, NRCS is only accepting proposals that address one or more of the priorities listed below. Each proposal must clearly identify a primary priority.
- Climate-Smart Agriculture
- Combating Invasive Species
- Conservation in Urban Agricultural Systems
For the FY l 2022 award process, at least 10% of the total funds available are set aside for proposals that entirely benefit historically underserved (HU) producers. This HU set-aside will ensure that equity is incorporated in the planning and delivery of CIG projects to align with NRCS’s Justice 40 goals. HU applicants can also waive the non-Federal match requirements.
ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS
All non-Federal entities and individuals based in the United States are eligible to apply for projects carried out in the United States. “Based in the United Stated” includes all 50 states, the District of Columbia, the Caribbean Area (Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands), and the Pacific Islands Area (Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands).
All CIG projects must involve USDA Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) eligible producers that meet that EQIP’s eligibility requirements.
COST SHARING OR MATCHING REQUIREMENT
- 50 percent of total project costs (total project costs include the Federal and non-Federal portions), except for applicants competing for HU funding
- Applicants applying under and qualifying for the HU set aside are eligible to reduce their project match to one-third of the total project budget, or 50 percent of the Federal request
FUNDING AVAILABLE AND APPLICATION WINDOW
FUNDING AVAILABLE: $15,000,000
AWARD SIZE: Award Ceiling: $2,000,000
Award Floor: $300,000
APPLICATION DEADLINE: October 11, 2022