Conservation Innovation Grant (CIG) | Apply Online

Opportunity Summary:

The Conservation Innovation Grant (CIG) opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number: USDA NRCS CIG LA 15 01) is a Louisiana-focused, competitive funding program run by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to encourage new and creative conservation methods. The core purpose is to stimulate the development, testing, and wider adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies that support natural resource protection and improvement across the state. This opportunity is offered as a discretionary award and may be issued as either a grant or a cooperative agreement, depending on how NRCS structures its involvement in a selected project.

For Fiscal Year 2015, Louisiana NRCS anticipated a total of $150,000 available statewide, with an expected two awards. Each award is set at $75,000, meaning the award floor and award ceiling are both $75,000. The funding is tied to CFDA 10.912, the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), which generally emphasizes practical, on-the-ground conservation outcomes. Because the announcement includes a cost-sharing or matching requirement, applicants should plan to contribute non-federal resources (cash and/or allowable in-kind contributions, as permitted by the program rules) to help carry out the project.

The program is structured around clear performance timing rules. Selected projects must begin implementation within 12 months after the grant award, and the full project must be completed within 36 months of the award date. In practice, that means proposals should be realistic about startup activities (planning, partner agreements, any necessary approvals) while still demonstrating that meaningful field implementation and measurable conservation outcomes can occur within a three-year window.

Eligibility is broad and includes many different types of applicants who can deliver conservation innovation at scale or in targeted pilot settings. Eligible applicants include individuals; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; state, county, city/township, and special district governments; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education institutions where applicable); for-profit organizations that are not small businesses; and small businesses. The announcement also emphasizes that applications will be accepted from eligible individuals and entities such as tribes, state and local governments, and non-governmental organizations, reflecting an intent to attract proposals from across the conservation, agriculture, academic, and private-sector communities.

Applications for this specific cycle were posted on April 15, 2015, and were due by June 12, 2015, with the opportunity later archived on July 12, 2015. Awards were made through a statewide competitive process, so proposals would be ranked against other Louisiana submissions based on how well they align with the state program objectives and eligibility criteria described in the notice. While the announcement text does not list the detailed ranking criteria in the excerpt provided, CIG competitions typically prioritize projects that demonstrate genuine innovation, a strong plan for measurable environmental benefits, a clear strategy for transferring results so others can adopt the practice or technology, and a credible budget and workplan that fit the required timeframe.

For applicants who needed help accessing the full announcement or required clarification, the listed point of contact was John Pitre, State Resource Conservationist, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, 3737 Government St., Alexandria, LA 71302, phone (318) 473 7774, email john.pitre@la.usda.gov. The funding opportunity also references an additional information link associated with NRCS Louisiana for supporting materials and official instructions.

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