Key Points
March 2006
Conservation Innovation Grants
based, regional, multi-State, or nationwide in scope. • The CIG final rule describes the potential for implementing a State component of CIG. The intent of the State component is to provide flexibility to NRCS State Conservationists to target CIG funds to individual producers and smaller organizations that may possess promising innovations, but may not compete well on the larger scale of the national grants competition. The State component of CIG was piloted in 12 States and the Pacific Basin Area in fiscal year (FY) 2005. In FY 2006, 22 States and the Pacific Basin and Caribbean Areas will offer CIG State competitions. Funding availability and application and submission information for State competitions will be announced through public notices (and on State NRCS websites) separately from this national notice. State Conservationists will determine the funding level for State competitions, with individual grants not to exceed $75,000. Applications should describe the use of innovative technologies or approaches, or both, to address a natural resource conservation concern or concerns. The natural resource concerns eligible for funding through CIG will be identified in the funding notice, and may change annually. The four natural resource concerns for fiscal year 2006 are: • Water resources • Soil resources
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Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) is a voluntary program intended to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies while leveraging the Federal investment in environmental enhancement and protection, in conjunction with agricultural production. The 2002 Farm Bill authorized CIG under EQIP. Funds made available for CIG come from EQIP. Proposed projects must involve EQIP-eligible producers. The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) administers CIG. The Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) final rule was published in the Federal Register on January 11, 2005. Funding notices announcing the availability of funds are published annually on the NRCS website and on the Federal government’s eGrants portal, www.grants.gov. CIG funds are awarded through a nationwide grants competition. CIG applications will be accepted from State or local units of government, Federallyrecognized Indian Tribes, nongovernmental organizations, and individuals. The National grants competition will emphasize projects that have a goal of providing benefits over a large geographic area. These projects may be watershed
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The Natural Resources Conservation Service provides leadership in a partnership effort to help people conserve, maintain, and improve our natural resources and environment. An Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer
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Atmospheric resources Grazing land and forest health •
from the peer review panels, and ensure that the proposal evaluations are consistent with program objectives. The Grant Review Board will make recommendations to the Chief for final selections.
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In addition, a new Technology component allows FY 2006 applicants to address one or more technology categories identified in the funding announcement. Selected applicants may receive grants of up to 50 percent of the total project cost. Applicants must provide non-Federal funding for at least 50 percent of the project cost, of which up to one-half (25 percent of the total project cost) may come from in-kind contributions. CIG provides for two programmatic exceptions for historically underserved groups to help ensure that these groups benefit from innovative technologies and approaches. • Each year, up to 10 percent of CIG funds may be set aside for applicants who are beginning or limited resource farmers or ranchers, or Tribes, or community-based organizations comprised of or representing these entities. • Matching funds for grants awarded to any of the groups mentioned above may consist of up to 75 percent in-kind contributions. Qualified applications will be scored by a peer review panel against the following criteria for proposal evaluation: • Purpose and goals • Soundness of approach or design • Project management • Transferability Scored applications will be forwarded to an NRCS Grant Review Board, consisting of the Deputy Chief for Programs, Deputy Chief for Science and Technology, Deputy Chief for Soil Survey and Resource Assessment, one Regional Assistant Chief, and one State Conservationist. The Grant Review Board will certify the rankings
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For More Information If you need more information about CIG, please contact Gus Jordan, 14th and Independence Avenue SW, Room 5239-S, Washington, D.C., 20250, phone: (202) 6902621, fax: (202) 720-4265. E-mails may be sent to: gus.jordan@wdc.usda.gov. Additional information is available on the World Wide Web at: http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/cig.
Visit USDA on the Web at: http://www.usda.gov/farmbill Note: This is not intended to be a definitive interpretation of farm legislation. Rather, it is preliminary and may change as USDA develops implementing policies and procedures. Please check back for updates.
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CIG Key Points
page 2
March 2006