Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) is a competitive program that supports the development of new tools, approaches, practices, and technologies to further natural resource conservation on private lands.
Pacific Island Area CIG Opportunities
Through creative problem solving and innovation, CIG partners work to address water quality, air quality, soil health and wildlife habitat challenges in the Pacific Islands Area, all while improving agricultural operations. Applications are accepted from eligible entities for projects carried out in Hawaiʻi, American Samoa, Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI).
National & State CIG Classic
Through national and state-level CIG Classic, partners compete for funding to develop new tools, technologies and strategies to support next-generation conservation efforts on private working lands and develop market-based solutions to resource challenges. While the overall goal and approach match those of national CIG Classic, CIG state competitions fund projects that target state-identified conservation priorities. State CIG competitions are announced separately from national competitions.
CIG On-Farm Conservation Innovation Trials (On-Farm Trials)
CIG On-Farm Trials projects feature collaboration between NRCS and partners to implement on-the-ground conservation activities and then evaluate their impact. CIG On-Farm Trials projects support more widespread adoption and evaluation of innovative conservation approaches in partnership with agricultural producers. Participating producers receive incentive payments to offset the risk of implementing innovative approaches.
Explore CIG
PIA CIG Projects
Since its inception in 2004, CIG has funded hundreds of projects, boosting natural resource conservation while helping producers improve the health of their operations for the future.
How to Apply
CIG program information and how to apply.
For Grantees
Information for grantees who have been awarded funding for a CIG project.
Contact
Nicholas Saumweber
Assistant Director for Programs
Phone: (808) 600-2959
Email: Nicholas.Saumweber@usda.gov
Additional Information
Webinars
NRCS has established a webinar series to allow employees, partner conservationists and other interested stakeholders to hear directly from CIG grantees.
Fact Sheet
General information about the CIG program, who is eligible and how to apply.
Support for Historically Underserved Producers
CIG provides special consideration and benefits to Historically Underserved applicants and projects that support Historically Underserved producers.
Congressional Report
The 2021 Congressional report briefly describes the history of CIG and how the program is managed.
Ready to get started?
Contact your local service center to start your application.
How to Get Assistance
Do you farm or ranch and want to make improvements to the land that you own or lease?
Natural Resources Conservation Service offers technical and financial assistance to help farmers, ranchers and forest landowners.
To get started with NRCS, we recommend you stop by your local NRCS field office. We’ll discuss your vision for your land.
NRCS provides landowners with free technical assistance, or advice, for their land. Common technical assistance includes: resource assessment, practice design and resource monitoring. Your conservation planner will help you determine if financial assistance is right for you.
We’ll walk you through the application process. To get started on applying for financial assistance, we’ll work with you:
- To fill out an AD 1026, which ensures a conservation plan is in place before lands with highly erodible soils are farmed. It also ensures that identified wetland areas are protected.
- To meet other eligibility certifications.
Once complete, we’ll work with you on the application, or CPA 1200.
Applications for most programs are accepted on a continuous basis, but they’re considered for funding in different ranking periods. Be sure to ask your local NRCS district conservationist about the deadline for the ranking period to ensure you turn in your application in time.
As part of the application process, we’ll check to see if you are eligible. To do this, you’ll need to bring:
- An official tax ID (Social Security number or an employer ID)
- A property deed or lease agreement to show you have control of the property; and
- A farm number.
If you don’t have a farm number, you can get one from USDA’s Farm Service Agency. Typically, the local FSA office is located in the same building as the local NRCS office. You only need a farm number if you’re interested in financial assistance.
NRCS will take a look at the applications and rank them according to local resource concerns, the amount of conservation benefits the work will provide and the needs of applicants. View Application Ranking Dates by State.
If you’re selected, you can choose whether to sign the contract for the work to be done.
Once you sign the contract, you’ll be provided standards and specifications for completing the practice or practices, and then you will have a specified amount of time to implement. Once the work is implemented and inspected, you’ll be paid the rate of compensation for the work if it meets NRCS standards and specifications.