The Conservation Innovation Grant (CIG) is a voluntary, competitive grants program intended to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative approaches and technologies for conservation on agricultural lands. CIG uses Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) funds to award competitive grants to non-Federal governmental or non-governmental organizations, American Indian Tribes, or individuals. Producers involved in CIG funded projects must be EQIP eligible.
Through CIG, NRCS partners with public and private entities to accelerate technology transfer and adopt promising technologies. These new technologies and approaches address some of New York’s most pressing natural resource concerns. CIG benefits agricultural producers by providing more options for environmental enhancement and compliance within New York.
Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in New York State announces up to $150,000 in available funding for qualifying projects under the Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) Program. CIG is used to apply or demonstrate previously proven technology in order to increase adoption with an emphasis on opportunities to measure proven, emerging conservation strategies.
CIG promotes sharing of skills, knowledge, technologies, and facilities among communities, governments, and other institutions to ensure that scientific and technological developments are accessible to a wider range of users. CIG funds projects targeting innovative on-the-ground conservation, including pilot projects and field demonstration.
The Fiscal Year 2016 New York Conservation Innovation Grants Announcement for Funding (APF) is accepting proposals. The full proposal must be received by NRCS before 4:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST) on July 1, 2016. NRCS will announce selected proposals by Friday, July 22, 2016.
Additional CIG Information
Each year, there are two separate opportunities to apply for grants - the NRCS New York administered CIG program and the NRCS nationally administered CIG program. Each grant program may be applied to separately. Grant proposals submitted to the national program are evaluated and awarded separately from the New York CIG program and vice versa. A qualified agency, organization or individual may apply simultaneously to each program; however, only one grant will be awarded for the same application.
Application Materials
Application materials and Request for Proposals (RFP) will be posted on Grants.Gov an offsite link.
CIG Documents and Links
The following documents document require Adobe Reader. All documents are less than 250 KB.
Conservation Innovation Grants Fiscal Year (FY) 2016 Announcement for Program Funding – New York
Conservation Innovation Grants Fact Sheet
Sign up for Farm Bill email updates
For more information, visit Grants.Gov or the national NRCS Conservation Innovation Grants web page.
