Grant proposals are due by May 19, 2023.
BANGOR, Maine (March 28, 2023) – Up to $250,000 in Federal grant funding is available in Maine for the development of innovative conservation approaches and technologies through the USDA-administered Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) program. Grant proposals are due by May 19, 2023.
Complete information on this opportunity can be found online at: USDA-NRCS-ME-CIG-NOFO0001269.
Funded through USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), CIG helps stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies in conjunction with agricultural production. CIG projects are expected to lead to the transfer of conservation technologies, management systems, and innovative approaches (such as market-based systems) to agricultural producers, into government technical manuals and guides, or to the private sector. NRCS-Maine is particularly interested in proposals that will explore new conservation practice applications, inform improvements or evaluate efficacy of existing practices, and/or expand adoption of conservation practices offered in NRCS financial assistance programs.
CIG generally funds pilot projects, field demonstrations, and on-farm conservation research. This year’s state priorities for USDA-NRCS-ME-CIG-NOFO0001269 are:
Forestry
Aquatic Organism Conservation
Soil Health
Pollinator Conservation
Irrigation and Natural Soil Moisture Management
Applications must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov. For those new to the Grants.gov system, there are several preliminary steps required before an application can be submitted. To register in the grants.gov system, go to www.grants.gov, click on “Applicants”, then click on “Get Registered.” All non-Federal entities and individuals are invited to apply. The CIG requires applicants to supply at least a 50-50 match.
Visit the NRCS Conservation Innovation Grants site for more details on CIGs.
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