Announcement for Program Funding for NRCS' Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) for Federal fiscal year (FY) 2018 - ME | USDA NRCS ME CIG 18 01

Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NRCS ME CIG 18 01

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), through the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), is offering Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) funding for federal fiscal year 2018 specifically for projects carried out in the state of Maine. This opportunity is designed to stimulate the development, testing, demonstration, and broader adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies. In practice, that means NRCS is looking to support ideas that go beyond standard conservation practices, helping move new tools, methods, or systems from concept or pilot stage into real-world use where they can improve environmental and natural resource outcomes tied to agriculture and working lands.

This is a discretionary grant program (Funding Opportunity Number: USDA NRCS ME CIG 18 01; CFDA: 10.912) aligned with agriculture, environmental stewardship, natural resources, and science and technology research and development. The total funding available for Maine under this announcement is up to $250,000 for FY 2018. NRCS anticipates making around six awards, and the maximum (ceiling) amount for any single award is $75,000. Projects can run from one to three years, allowing applicants to propose anything from shorter demonstrations to multi-year pilots that gather results over multiple seasons or implementation cycles.

Eligibility is broad and is intended to include nearly all non-federal applicants. All non-Federal entities and individuals may apply, with the only explicit exclusion being federal agencies. Eligible applicant types include state, county, and local governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; other tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofit organizations (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3), excluding higher education where specified); for-profit organizations (including those other than small businesses); small businesses; and individuals. This wide eligibility is meant to encourage participation from researchers, producers, nonprofit practitioners, local governments, and private-sector innovators who can translate conservation concepts into usable solutions.

The timeline for this particular announcement began with a creation/posting date of February 13, 2018, and the original application deadline was April 16, 2018. Applicants were expected to submit proposals within that window for consideration under the FY 2018 Maine allocation. Overall, the program’s core aim is to fund practical innovation that can be replicated or scaled, improving conservation outcomes through new or improved methods and technologies, while keeping the work grounded in Maine and aligned with NRCS conservation priorities.

• The Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service in the agriculture, environment, natural resources, science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Announcement for Program Funding for NRCS' Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) for Federal fiscal year (FY) 2018 - ME" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.912.
• This funding opportunity was created on Feb 13, 2018.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 16, 2018. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $75,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 6 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Individuals, For profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses.

Apply for USDA NRCS ME CIG 18 01

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