Release No.: 06.24   

ATHENS, GA, February 23, 2024 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is requesting proposals from eligible applicants that can assist with Georgia-focused outreach and education to ensure better awareness and understanding of USDA-NRCS programs, particularly to historically underserved communities.

"We are inviting new and passionate partners to the table that can help take our USDA message into new communities," said Terrance O. Rudolph, state conservationist for NRCS in Georgia. “By establishing and expanding or outreach relationships with groups outside of NRCS, we are creating roads that bring new resources to new customers and we are excited to see where that future takes us.”

In addition to the previously announced technical assistance-focused Notice of Funding Opportunity (NFO), conservation and outreach minded organizations, who wish to apply for this funding should demonstrate how they can ensure equity in the delivery and implementation of all NRCS programs and services. 

NRCS in Georgia anticipates funding approximately $2,500,000 this fiscal year 2024 for 1–3-year projects that address outreach and education geared toward multiple audiences that informs participants about NRCS conservation technical assistance and available opportunities through Farm Bill programs. The estimated funding floor for this opportunity is $25,000, and the estimated funding ceiling is $100,000.

Potential applicants should review the funding opportunity entitled Georgia NRCS Outreach and Education for Fiscal Year 2024 (USDA-NRCS-GA-MULTI-24-NOFO0001348) 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 23, 2024. All awards are subject to the availability of funds appropriated by Congress and the State Conservationist reserves the right to not fund any or all applications.

For further questions about this funding opportunity, please contact Erick Purifoy by email at erick.purifoy@usda.gov with a copy to NFO.FPAC@USDA.GOV. Please include the NFO number in the subject line.

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 NFO 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.grants.gov/learn-grants/grants-101/ . 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).