Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) are competitive grants that 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 nongovernmental 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 the Nation's most pressing natural resources concerns. CIG benefits agricultural producers by providing more options for environmental enhancement and compliance with Federal, State, and local regulations.
NRCS will invest $25 million for new national CIG projects in fiscal year 2017. The focus areas this year are conservation finance; data analytics for natural resources; pay-for-success models to stimulate conservation adoption; precision conservation; water management technologies and approaches; and benefiting historically underserved farmers, ranchers and private forest landowners.
Up to $2 million of this year’s CIG funding has been set aside for projects that benefit historically underserved and military veteran farmers and ranchers, beginning farmers and ranchers and those with limited resources and organizations that include or support them.
The application period will close on January 9, 2017. American Indian tribes, state and local units of government, non-governmental organizations and individuals are eligible to submit applications. Project proposals must be submitted electronically through www.grants.gov 
and a pdf copy must be e-mailed to nrcscig@wdc.usda.gov.
Wisconsin Program Contacts
CIG Program Contact: Tom Krapf, tom.krapf@wi.usda.gov, (608) 662-4422 x232
CIG Technical Contact: Judy Derricks, judy.derricks@wi.usda.gov, (608) 662-4422 x115
Additional Resources
