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Conservation Innovation Grants

Updated 02/04/08

Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) is a voluntary program intended to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies while leveraging Federal investment in environmental enhancement and protection, in conjunction with agricultural production. Under CIG, Environmental Quality Incentives Program funds are used to award competitive grants to non-Federal governmental or non-governmental organizations, Tribes, or individuals. CIG enables NRCS to work with other public and private entities to accelerate technology transfer and adoption of promising technologies and approaches to address some of the Nation's most pressing natural resource concerns. CIG will benefit agricultural producers by providing more options for environmental enhancement and compliance with Federal, State, and local regulations. NRCS administers CIG.

Conservation Innovation Grants in 2008

CIG has two competitions available in fiscal year 2008--National and State.  The announcement for program funding for the National competition is available below.  Each State administering a CIG competition will announce funding availability through separate requests for proposals:

National Competition

  • Natural Resource Concerns category--Up to $10 million available for proposals addressing one or more of the CIG natural resource concerns. This component was also offered in 2004,  2005, 2006 and 2007.
  • Technology category--Up to $5 million available for proposals addressing one or more of the CIG technology categories.  This component was offered in 2006.
  • Chesapeake Bay Watershed category--Up to $5 million available for proposals addressing one or more of the CIG natural resource concerns in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.  This component was also offered in 2005, 2006 and 2007. For FY2008 the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) will be accepting and reviewing applications for this category. For information on submitting an application for this category please visit www.nfwf.org/chesapeake.

2008 State Competitions

The state component of CIG is being carried out in selected States and Areas. 
 

2008 Grant Materials

2008 Application Materials (deadline February 20, 2008)

These documents require Adobe Acrobat Reader

Adobe Acrobat DocumentFiscal Year 2008 Announcement of Program Funding (86 KB) New!
This announcement combines all three National categories--Natural Resource Concerns, Chesapeake Bay Watershed, and the Technology category.

Adobe Acrobat DocumentFiscal Year 2008 Application Package Check List (22 KB) New!
Adobe Acrobat DocumentSF 424A Supplemental Instructions (17 KB)
Adobe Acrobat DocumentExample of a completed SF 424a (126 KB)
Adobe Acrobat DocumentSF 3881 Vendor/Miscellaneous Payment Enrollment Form (174 KB)

The document below requires Microsoft Word
Microsoft Word Document Project Summary Sheet (Template) (25 KB) New!

All OMB standard forms (SF) necessary for CIG submission are available on the following OMB website: http://www.grants.gov/agencies/aapproved_standard_forms.jsp

Information for Grantees

Reporting schedules and forms for FY 2004, 2005,  2006 and 2007 CIG grantees.

Rules, Notices and Additional Information

These documents require Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Adobe Acrobat DocumentFinal Rule  Published 1/11/05  (64 KB)
Adobe Acrobat DocumentInterim Final Rule with Request for Comments  Published 3/29/04  (133 KB)
Adobe Acrobat DocumentFact Sheet
 Adobe Acrobat DocumentKey Points 
Adobe Acrobat DocumentProgram Description  
Adobe Acrobat DocumentQuestions and Answers

Appendix

Program Contact

Tessa Chadwick, (202) 720-2335

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