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.
Conservation Innovation Grant RFP Webinar
Thursday, April 12, 2018
10:00 a.m. - Noon | Central Daylight Time (Chicago, GMT-05:00) | 2 hrs
Meeting Number: 961 379 141
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Application Resources
2018 CIG Funding Opportunity
NRCS is announcing the availability of CIG to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies. Applications will be accepted from eligible entities for projects carried out in the state of Iowa. A total of up to $500,000 is available for CIG in FY 2018. All non-Federal entities (NFE) and individuals are invited to apply, with the sole exception of Federal agencies. Projects may be between one and three years in duration. The maximum award amount for a single award in FY 2018 is $75,000.
APPLICATIONS DUE DATE: Applications must be received by 5 p.m. Central Daylight Savings Time on May 29, 2018.
SUBMISSIONS: Applications must be submitted electronically through grants.gov. In addition, a PDF of the complete application must be emailed to judy.martinson@ia.usda.gov and martin.adkins@ia.usda.gov. Both submissions must be received by the submission due date. Click here for more on how to submit an application.
Please note: The grants.gov electronic submission component has been updated. The updated component is called Workspace. Workspace is the standard way for organizations or individuals to apply for federal grants in Grants.gov. Workspace allows an applicant grant team to simultaneously access and edit different forms within an application. In addition, the forms can be filled out online or as a PDF.
State Competition
The CIG state component emphasizes projects that benefit a limited geographical area. Participating states will announce their funding availability for CIG competitions through their state NRCS offices. For additional information about State CIG competitions, contact Marty Adkins.
National Competition
A CIG funding notice is announced each year. Funds for single- or multi-year projects, not to exceed three years, will be awarded through a nationwide competitive grants process. Projects may be watershed-based, regional, multi-state or nationwide in scope. The natural resource concerns eligible for funding through CIG will be identified in the funding announcement and may change annually to focus on new and emerging, high priority natural resource concerns.
Statute:
H.R.2642, the Agricultural Act of 2014
TITLE II—CONSERVATION
Subtitle C—Environmental Quality Incentives Program
SEC. 2207. CONSERVATION INNOVATION GRANTS AND PAYMENTS
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.
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 Contacts for Iowa
Judy Martinson
Phone: 515-284-4262
Email: judy.martinson@ia.usda.gov
Marty Adkins
Phone: 515-284-4262
Email: martin.adkins@ia.usda.gov
