Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NRCS CA CIG 17 01
California Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) is a competitive grant program run by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in California, designed to speed up the real-world adoption of innovative conservation practices and technologies that also support agricultural production. The central goal is practical impact: projects should demonstrate or apply approaches that are already proven or close to proven, then help move them into wider use by farmers, ranchers, and land managers. A key expectation is that successful projects will result in conservation technologies, management systems, or innovative approaches (including market-based tools) being transferable into NRCS technical manuals and guidance, or being taken up broadly by the private sector.
The program focuses on on-the-ground conservation work, especially pilot projects and field demonstrations that show how a conservation strategy performs under actual operating conditions. CIG is not intended to fund conventional research and development; however, it can support on-farm conservation research when it is tightly defined and methodologically sound. In this context, on-farm conservation research means an investigation that answers a specific conservation question using a statistically valid design, with appropriate replication and analysis, and carried out with farm-scale equipment on working farm fields. Even when research is allowed, the emphasis stays on stimulating innovative, adoptable natural resource management approaches tied directly to agricultural production rather than basic or exploratory research.
Applicants may propose single-year or multi-year projects, but project periods cannot exceed three years. Eligibility is broad and includes Indian Tribes, state and local governments (including counties, cities/townships, and special districts), public and private institutions of higher education, federally recognized tribal governments, qualified nonprofits (including 501(c)(3) organizations), individuals, and for-profit entities including small businesses. The opportunity is limited to proposals submitted by eligible entities from California, reflecting the state-focused nature of this particular CIG competition.
Applications go through a structured, multi-stage review process. First, NRCS screens submissions for completeness and compliance with the solicitation requirements; proposals that are incomplete or noncompliant are removed from consideration and applicants are notified. Proposals that pass this screening are then evaluated by a technical peer review panel using published evaluation criteria referenced in the solicitation instructions. After technical review, proposals and their reviews are forwarded to the California Review Board, which develops funding recommendations. Final award selections are made by the NRCS State Conservationist.
Administratively, this is a discretionary grant opportunity in the Agriculture, Environment, and Natural Resources area (CFDA 10.912). The funding opportunity is identified as USDA NRCS CA CIG 17 01, with an award ceiling of $75,000 and an expected 60 awards listed for the opportunity cycle referenced in the source data. The notice was created April 4, 2017, with an original closing date of June 7, 2017.Apply for USDA NRCS CA CIG 17 01
- The Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service in the agriculture, environment, natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "California Conservation Innovation Grants" 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 Apr 04, 2017.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 07, 2017. (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 60 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Nonprofits having 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.
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California Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) - FAQs
1) What is the California Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) program?
California Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) is a competitive grant program run by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in California. It is designed to speed up real-world adoption of innovative conservation practices and technologies that also support agricultural production.
2) What is the main goal of this grant opportunity?
The central goal is practical, on-the-ground impact. Projects are expected to demonstrate or apply conservation approaches that are already proven or close to proven, and then help move them into wider use by farmers, ranchers, and land managers.
3) What types of outcomes does NRCS expect from successful projects?
Successful projects are expected to result in conservation technologies, management systems, or innovative approaches (including market-based tools) that are transferable into NRCS technical manuals and guidance, or that are taken up broadly by the private sector.
4) Is this program focused more on research or field implementation?
The program focuses on on-the-ground conservation work, especially pilot projects and field demonstrations that show how a conservation strategy performs under actual operating conditions.
5) Does CIG fund conventional research and development (R&D)?
No. CIG is not intended to fund conventional research and development.
6) Can CIG support on-farm conservation research?
Yes, it can support on-farm conservation research when it is tightly defined and methodologically sound, but the emphasis remains on stimulating innovative, adoptable natural resource management approaches tied directly to agricultural production rather than basic or exploratory research.
7) What does NRCS mean by "on-farm conservation research" in this program?
In this context, on-farm conservation research is an investigation that answers a specific conservation question using a statistically valid design, with appropriate replication and analysis, and carried out with farm-scale equipment on working farm fields.
8) What kinds of projects are especially encouraged under this opportunity?
Projects that involve pilot projects and field demonstrations are especially aligned with the program focus, because they show how conservation strategies perform under real operating conditions and help accelerate adoption.
9) How long can a project last?
Applicants may propose single-year or multi-year projects, but project periods cannot exceed three years.
10) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes Indian Tribes, state and local governments (including counties, cities/townships, and special districts), public and private institutions of higher education, federally recognized tribal governments, qualified nonprofits (including 501(c)(3) organizations), individuals, and for-profit entities including small businesses.
11) Is this opportunity limited to applicants from California?
Yes. The opportunity is limited to proposals submitted by eligible entities from California, reflecting the state-focused nature of this CIG competition.
12) How are applications reviewed and selected?
Applications go through a structured, multi-stage review process:
- Initial screening: NRCS screens submissions for completeness and compliance with the solicitation requirements. Incomplete or noncompliant proposals are removed from consideration and applicants are notified.
- Technical peer review: Proposals that pass screening are evaluated by a technical peer review panel using published evaluation criteria referenced in the solicitation instructions.
- California Review Board: After technical review, proposals and their reviews are forwarded to the California Review Board, which develops funding recommendations.
- Final selection: Final award selections are made by the NRCS State Conservationist.
13) What happens if an application is incomplete or does not meet the solicitation requirements?
NRCS removes incomplete or noncompliant proposals from consideration and notifies applicants.
14) What evaluation criteria are used in the technical review?
The technical peer review panel uses published evaluation criteria referenced in the solicitation instructions.
15) What type of grant is this (administratively)?
This is a discretionary grant opportunity in the Agriculture, Environment, and Natural Resources area.
16) What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The CFDA number listed for this opportunity is 10.912.
17) What is the funding opportunity identifier?
The funding opportunity is identified as USDA NRCS CA CIG 17 01.
18) What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling listed for this opportunity is $75,000.
19) How many awards are expected?
The source data lists an expected 60 awards for the opportunity cycle referenced.
20) When was this notice created and when did it close?
The notice was created on April 4, 2017. The original closing date was June 7, 2017.
21) What does "competitive grant program" mean in this context?
It means proposals are reviewed and ranked through a formal evaluation process, and only selected applications receive funding based on the review outcomes and final selection decisions.
22) What does "transferable into NRCS technical manuals and guidance" imply?
It implies NRCS is looking for approaches that can be documented, standardized, and used as practical guidance or technical references, or that can be widely adopted beyond the project itself.
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| 2017 NRCS Conservation Technical Assistance in Vermont Apply for USDA NRCS VT CTA EQIP ACEP FRPP WRP 01 Funding Number: USDA NRCS VT CTA EQIP ACEP FRPP WRP 01 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service Category: Agriculture, Environment, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $400,000 |
| Assistance with the organization and function of the East Creek and McKenzie Brook Watersheds (VT) Apply for USDA NRCS VT CTA EQIP 17 01 Funding Number: USDA NRCS VT CTA EQIP 17 01 Agency: Department of Agriculture, USDA-NRCS-NHQ Category: Agriculture, Environment, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $87,500 |
| Conservation Collaboration Grants or Agreements Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 Apply for USDA NRCS MULTI STATE CENTRAL CCG 001 Funding Number: USDA NRCS MULTI STATE CENTRAL CCG 001 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service Category: Agriculture, Environment, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $2,500,000 |
| NRCS Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) Apply for USDA NRCS GA CIG 001 Funding Number: USDA NRCS GA CIG 001 Agency: Department of Agriculture, USDA-NRCS-MSD-Ft Worth Office Category: Agriculture, Environment, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $75,000 |
| Announcement for Program Funding for NRCS’ Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) for Federal fiscal year (FY) 2018 – Pennsylvania Apply for USDA NRCS PA CIG 18 001 Funding Number: USDA NRCS PA CIG 18 001 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service Category: Agriculture, Environment, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $75,000 |
| Announcement for Program Funding for NRCS’ Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) for Federal fiscal year (FY) 2018 – Rhode Island Apply for USDA NRCS RI CIG 18 001 Funding Number: USDA NRCS RI CIG 18 001 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service Category: Agriculture, Environment, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $75,000 |
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| Announcement for Program Funding for NRCS' Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) for Federal fiscal year (FY) 2018 -Maryland Apply for USDA NRCS MD CIG 18 01 Funding Number: USDA NRCS MD CIG 18 01 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service Category: Agriculture, Environment, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $75,000 |
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