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USDA ANNOUNCES FISCAL YEAR 2007 SIGN-UP FOR UP TO $20 MILLION IN CONSERVATION INNOVATION GRANTS

Warwick, Rhode Island - January 3, 2007— State Conservationist Roylene Rides at the Door today announced the request for proposals for the national Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG). Conservation Innovation Grants 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 funds are used to award competitive grants to non-Federal governmental or non-governmental organizations, Tribes, or individuals.

There are three CIG categories available in FY 2007:

  • Natural Resource Concerns Category—up to $10 million available for proposals addressing one or more of the CIG natural resource concerns.
  • Chesapeake Bay Watershed Category—up to $5 million available for proposals addressing one or more of the CIG natural resource concerns in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
  • Technology Category—up to $5 million available for proposals addressing one or more of the CIG technology categories.

Applicants should explain how large a geographic area the project would benefit. These projects may be watershed-based, regional, multi-State, or nationwide in scope. Applications should describe the use of innovative technologies or approaches, or both, to address a natural resource conservation concern or concerns.

CIG has two competitions available in fiscal year 2007--National and State.  The announcement for program funding for the State competition will be available soon through a separate request for proposals.  You may apply to both competitions.

Funding for CIG is made available through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). All proposed CIG projects must involve EQIP-eligible producers. CIG funds that are used to provide direct or indirect payments to individuals or entities to implement structural, vegetative or management practices are subject to the $450,000 EQIP payment limitation. CIG is not a research program but rather a tool to stimulate the adoption of conservation approaches or technologies that have been studied sufficiently to indicate a high likelihood of success, and are likely candidates for eventual technology transfer.

CIG will fund projects targeting innovative on-the-ground conservation, including pilot projects and field demonstrations. Technologies and approaches that are commonly used in the geographic area covered by the application, and which are eligible for funding through EQIP, are not eligible for funding through CIG. Proposed projects must conform to the description of innovative conservation projects or activities published in the Announcement of Program Funding (APF).

CIG funds pilot projects and conservation field trials that can last from one to three years. Grants for approved projects cannot exceed 50 percent of the total project cost. The federal contribution for a single project cannot exceed $1 million. At least 50 percent of the total cost of the project must come from non-Federal matching funds (cash and in-kind contributions) provided by the grantee. While NRCS will provide technical oversight for each project receiving an award, the grantee is responsible for providing the technical assistance required to successfully complete the project.

·    By January 26, 2007, applicants must submit a cover letter and a copy of their proposal to Roylene Rides at the Door, State Conservationist (STC), at 60 Quaker Lane, Suite 46, Warwick, RI 02886. The STC will review the proposal for potential duplication of effort, ethic concerns, consistency with overall EQIP objectives, and the expected benefits to EQIP implementation in the state.

·    By February 2, 2007, applicants must submit their original proposal and a copy of the cover letter showing the proposal was submitted to the STC to NRCS National Headquarters. 

·    By February 16, 2007, the STC will submit the letter of review as appropriate to NRCS National Headquarters in Washington DC.

For all the information, that you may need to apply please visit http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/cig/ or stop by the RI NRCS Office at 60 Quaker Lane, Suite 46, Warwick, RI.

 

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