USDA-NRCS Seeks Proposals from Conservation Minded Partners for National and Georgia-Focused Projects
There are multiple funding opportunities for partners to help NRCS deliver on its mission.
ATHENS, GA, March 1, 2023 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is requesting proposals to assist with implementing NRCS Chief Terry Cosby’s key priorities. This announcement compliments the recent national call for proposals and has separate funding criteria and Notice of Funding Opportunities (NOFO) discussed below.
Conservation minded organizations, who wish to apply, should demonstrate how they can ensure equity in the delivery and implementation of all NRCS programs and Services; increase assistance for climate-smart agriculture and forestry to support producers in building resiliency across their operations; expand conservation tools and support to address the unique needs of urban farmers and communities nationwide; cultivate a complete and diverse workforce that has the right tools, technologies, and training to uphold the scientific integrity of NRCS; leverage innovative partnerships to expand NRCS’s ability to get conservation on the ground effectively and efficiently.
"It’s vital to our future success that we develop partnerships in a meaningful way," said Terrance O. Rudolph, state conservationist for NRCS in Georgia. “When we make investments in partners, we provide critical resources to them that in turn help us get better at delivering services to all our customers and communities.”
GEORGIA NRCS CALL FOR PROPOSALS
NRCS in Georgia anticipates funding approximately $8,000,000 this fiscal year 2023 for 1–4-year projects that address topics such as Soil Health; Urban Agriculture and Conservation Education; Incorporating New Methods/Technologies in Conservation Outreach and Partnerships; Aquatic/Water Quality; Pollinator Habitat Enhancement; as well as Wildlife Habitat Enhancement.
Potential applicants should review the Georgia NRCS Technical Services and Projects for Fiscal Year 2023 announcement of funding (USDA-NRCS-GA-MULTI-23-NOFO0001246) available at www.grants.gov, which includes application materials and submission procedures. Proposals for this funding announcement are due by 11:59 pm Eastern Time on March 30, 2023. All awards are subject to the availability of funds appropriated by Congress.
For further questions about this funding opportunity, please contact Eric Purifoy (919) 875-4868 or eric.purifoy@usda.gov.
Funding Authority
This announcement is authorized and funded under the Soil and Water Conservation Technical Assistance (CTA) Program, Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and the Conservation Stewardship Program (CStP). For more information on these programs in Georgia, please visit www.ga.nrcs.usda.gov.
Federal Financial Assistance Training
The funding available through this NOFO is Federal financial assistance. Grants 101 Training is highly recommended for those seeking knowledge about Federal financial assistance. The training is free and available to the public via https://www.cfo.gov/grants-training/. It consists of five modules covering each of the following topics: 1) laws, regulations, and guidance; 2) financial assistance mechanisms; 3) uniform guidance administrative requirements; 4) cost principles; and 5) risk management and single audit. FPAC agencies also apply Federal financial assistance regulations to certain non-assistance awards (e.g., non-assistance cooperative agreements).
NATIONAL NRCS CALL FOR PROPOSALS
The USDA in Washington D.C. is seeking applications for projects that will improve outreach to underserved producers and underserved communities about conservation programs and services and opportunities for students to pursue careers in agriculture, natural resources, and related sciences. USDA’s NRCS is offering up to $70 million in cooperative agreements with entities for two-year projects that encourage participation in NRCS programs, especially in underserved communities and among urban and small-scale producers. Proposals for this NOFO are due April 27, 2023.
For more information on the FY 2023 Equity in Conservation Outreach Cooperative Agreements NOFO, you can view the grant opportunity here.
