Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NRCS MESO 14 1
Apply for USDA NRCS MESO 14 1
- The NRCS Maine State Office in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Conservation Innovation Grants Fiscal Year 2014 Announcement for Program Funding Maine" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.912 Environmental Quality Incentives Program.
- This funding opportunity was created on Feb 13, 2014 and posted on Feb 13, 2014.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 1, 2014. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $250,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $75,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 3 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Independent school districts County governments Individuals City or township governments Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Public and State controlled institutions of higher education State governments Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities Special district governments Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) Private institutions of higher education For profit organizations other than small businesses Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Small businesses.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) Fiscal Year 2014 funding opportunity for Maine, offered through the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Maine State Office, is a discretionary grant program designed to speed up the real-world adoption of innovative conservation practices in agriculture. The central idea is to improve environmental quality and resource protection while keeping agricultural production viable, and to do it by leveraging federal dollars alongside local, state, private, and institutional participation. Projects funded through CIG are meant to be practical, field-based efforts that demonstrate how a proven conservation technology or approach can be implemented on the ground, expanded, and ultimately used more widely.
A key point in this announcement is what CIG is and is not meant to fund. CIG is not a research program and it is not intended for experiments designed to test new hypotheses. If a proposal is essentially a research study, or if success is uncertain because the concept is unproven, it does not fit CIG. Instead, CIG supports applying or demonstrating conservation technologies and management systems that have already been studied enough to show a high likelihood of success. In other words, this program is positioned as a bridge between an idea that has evidence behind it and widespread use in real farming and conservation settings.
The outcomes NRCS is looking for go beyond a single demonstration site. CIG projects are expected to generate results and lessons that can be transferred into broader practice, either by being incorporated into NRCS policy materials (such as technical manuals, guides, and references) or by being adopted by the private sector and other partners. The program also emphasizes collaboration and knowledge-sharing so that effective tools, skills, and systems are accessible to more users, not just the original project team. Pilot projects and field demonstrations are explicitly included, reflecting the program focus on visible, practical conservation improvements that can be replicated.
For this Maine competition, the opportunity was posted on February 13, 2014, with an application deadline of April 1, 2014, and an archive date of May 1, 2014. The estimated total funding available was $250,000, with NRCS expecting to make about three awards. Individual awards ranged from a minimum of $1,000 to a maximum (ceiling) of $75,000. The program falls under CFDA number 10.912, which is associated with the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), and it includes a cost-sharing or matching requirement, meaning applicants must plan to contribute non-federal resources or secure partner contributions as part of the project financing.
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of organizations and entities that might be positioned to run conservation demonstrations or coordinate multi-partner projects. Eligible applicants include individuals; small businesses; for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); nonprofit organizations (both 501(c)(3) and certain non-501(c)(3) nonprofits, other than institutions of higher education); private and public institutions of higher education; independent school districts; and a wide range of government entities, including county governments, city or township governments, state governments, special district governments, public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, and Native American tribal governments and tribal organizations (including both federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations). This wide eligibility supports the program goal of spreading conservation innovation through many kinds of community, agricultural, educational, and governmental partnerships.
Applicants needing help accessing the full announcement were directed to contact Beth Chapman, Contracting Officer at the NRCS Maine State Office, by phone at 207-990-9584 or by email at Beth.Chapman@me.usda.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) FY 2014 (Maine)
1) What is this grant opportunity?
This is the Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) Fiscal Year 2014 funding opportunity for Maine, offered through the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Maine State Office. It is a discretionary grant program intended to speed up real-world adoption of innovative conservation practices in agriculture through practical, field-based projects.
2) What is the main purpose of CIG?
The purpose is to improve environmental quality and resource protection while keeping agricultural production viable. The program is designed to move conservation approaches with evidence behind them into on-the-ground use and broader adoption.
3) What kinds of projects does CIG aim to support?
CIG supports practical, field-based efforts that demonstrate how a proven conservation technology, practice, or management system can be implemented on the ground, expanded, and ultimately used more widely.
4) Is CIG a research grant program?
No. CIG is not a research program and is not intended to fund experiments designed to test new hypotheses.
5) What types of proposals do not fit CIG?
Proposals that are essentially research studies, or proposals where success is uncertain because the concept is unproven, do not fit the CIG purpose as described in the announcement.
6) What level of readiness is expected for the conservation technology or approach?
The conservation technology or approach should already be studied enough to show a high likelihood of success. CIG is positioned as a bridge between an idea that has supporting evidence and widespread use in real farming and conservation settings.
7) Are pilot projects or field demonstrations allowed?
Yes. Pilot projects and field demonstrations are explicitly included, reflecting the program focus on visible, practical conservation improvements that can be replicated.
8) What outcomes is NRCS looking for beyond a single project site?
Projects are expected to generate results and lessons that can be transferred into broader practice. Outcomes may include being incorporated into NRCS policy materials (such as technical manuals, guides, and references) or being adopted by the private sector and other partners.
9) Does the program emphasize collaboration and knowledge-sharing?
Yes. The program emphasizes collaboration and knowledge-sharing so effective tools, skills, and systems are accessible to more users, not just the original project team.
10) Which agency and office is administering this opportunity in Maine?
The opportunity is offered through the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Maine State Office.
11) What were the key dates for this Maine FY 2014 opportunity?
- Posted: February 13, 2014
- Application deadline: April 1, 2014
- Archive date: May 1, 2014
12) How much total funding was estimated to be available?
The estimated total funding available was $250,000.
13) About how many awards did NRCS expect to make?
NRCS expected to make about three awards.
14) What is the award size range?
Individual awards ranged from a minimum of $1,000 to a maximum (ceiling) of $75,000.
15) Is there a cost-sharing or matching requirement?
Yes. The program includes a cost-sharing or matching requirement, meaning applicants must plan to contribute non-federal resources or secure partner contributions as part of the project financing.
16) What is the CFDA number associated with this program?
The program falls under CFDA number 10.912.
17) What larger USDA program is referenced with the CFDA listing?
CFDA 10.912 is associated with the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP).
18) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes:
- Individuals
- Small businesses
- For-profit organizations (other than small businesses)
- Nonprofit organizations (501(c)(3) and certain non-501(c)(3) nonprofits, other than institutions of higher education)
- Private and public institutions of higher education
- Independent school districts
- Government entities, including county governments; city or township governments; state governments; special district governments; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities
- Native American tribal governments and tribal organizations (including federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations)
19) Can institutions of higher education apply?
Yes. Both private and public institutions of higher education are listed as eligible applicants.
20) Can for-profit organizations apply?
Yes. The eligibility list includes small businesses and for-profit organizations (other than small businesses).
21) Can tribal governments and tribal organizations apply?
Yes. The eligibility list includes Native American tribal governments (federally recognized) as well as other tribal organizations.
22) Where can applicants get help accessing the full announcement?
Applicants needing help accessing the full announcement were directed to contact Beth Chapman, Contracting Officer at the NRCS Maine State Office.
23) Who is the point of contact and how can they be reached?
Beth Chapman, Contracting Officer, NRCS Maine State Office
- Phone: 207-990-9584
- Email: Beth.Chapman@me.usda.gov
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| 2014 NRCS Iowa CIG Apply for 69 6114 2014 Funding Number: 69 6114 2014 Agency: USDA NRCS Iowa State Office Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $75,000 |
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| South Carolina FY 2014 Conservatiion Innovation Grant (CIG) Annoucement for Program Funding Apply for USDA NRCS SC 14 01 Funding Number: USDA NRCS SC 14 01 Agency: South Carolina State Office Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $300,000 |
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| Conservation Innovation Grant Apply for USDA NRCS KS 14 01 Funding Number: USDA NRCS KS 14 01 Agency: Kansas State Office Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Tribal Colleges Education Equity Grants Program Apply for USDA NIFA TCEG 004508 Funding Number: USDA NIFA TCEG 004508 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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