Conservation Innovation Grants
The Conservation Innovation Grant program (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 (EQIP) 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. The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) administers CIG. The CIG requires a 50-50 match between the agency and the applicant.
Fiscal Year 2013 Iowa CIG Program Signup Information
Important Date
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Applications Due: May 3, 2013
Fiscal Year 2013 National CIG Program Signup Information
Important Dates
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Pre-Proposals Due: March 22, 2013
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NRCS Selects Pre-Proposal Applications: April 15, 2013
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Selected Applicants Deadline for Submitting Full Proposal Package: May 13, 2013
Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Projects Through the National Conservation Innovation Grant (CIG) Program
USDA-NRCS has reserved $10 million of EQIP financial assistance (FA) to support projects where eligible producers will implement GHG benefiting conservation practices that complement and support the GHG-CIG projects. Agricultural producers located in approved CIG project areas - including Iowa - may be eligible to submit applications to help implement GHG-related conservation practices. In addition, applicants must meet producer, land, and other EQIP eligibility requirements.
The first cutoff date for CIG contract applications is February 15, 2013. Contact Paul Goldsmith, 515-284-4353, at the Iowa NRCS State Office for more information.
More Information
For more information, please contact one of the Iowa NRCS CIG contacts listed below. Complete application package materials can be found on the Iowa NRCS website or on the national CIG webpage.
CIG Program/Technical Contact
Paul Goldsmith
Phone: 515-284-4353
Email: paul.goldsmith@ia.usda.gov
CIG Administrative Contact (contract information, indirect costs, etc.)
John Selenske, Contracting Officer
Phone: 515-284-4506
Email: john.selenske@ia.usda.gov
