Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NRCS CIG SC 15 01
Apply for USDA NRCS CIG SC 15 01
- The South Carolina State Office in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Conservation Innovation Grants for FY 2015 Announcement for Program Funding for South Carolina" 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 May 14, 2015 and posted on May 14, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 17, 2015. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $300,000.00 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 6 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- 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
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Opportunity Summary:
The Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) opportunity for South Carolina in FY 2015 was a discretionary grant competition run by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) through the South Carolina State Office. Its basic purpose was to move conservation forward by helping applicants develop, test, demonstrate, and encourage the adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies. In practice, this meant NRCS was looking for projects that go beyond standard practice and can show new or improved methods for protecting natural resources, with an emphasis on ideas that can be replicated, scaled, or broadly adopted by producers, communities, or conservation partners across the state.
For FY 2015, South Carolina NRCS anticipated a total of $300,000 available for awards, distributed through a statewide competitive process. The announcement indicated an expected six awards. The funding parameters were unusually clear: both the award ceiling and award floor were listed as $75,000, which effectively signals that awards were intended to be made at a fixed amount of $75,000 per project (and six such awards would match the $300,000 total). The funding instrument type was a grant, and the activity category was natural resources. The program is associated with CFDA 10.912, the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), which is the broader NRCS program area under which CIG is commonly administered.
A key feature of this opportunity was the timeline and performance requirements. Funded projects needed to begin implementation within 12 months of the grant award and had to be completed within 36 months of the award. That structure favors projects that are ready to move from planning into action relatively quickly, while still allowing enough time to run pilots, gather data, evaluate outcomes, and produce materials that support adoption by others.
Eligibility was broad and included individuals as well as a range of public, nonprofit, tribal, and academic entities. Eligible applicants included state governments; county governments; city or township governments; special district governments; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; and nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (other than higher education institutions). The notice also referenced that “others” could be eligible depending on details provided in the full announcement, and it specifically highlighted that applications would be accepted from eligible individuals and entities including federally recognized Indian Tribes, state and local governments, and non-governmental organizations.
Cost sharing or matching was required, meaning federal grant dollars were not intended to cover 100 percent of project costs. Applicants would have needed to bring non-federal resources to the table, which could typically include cash contributions and, depending on the rules in the full notice, potentially in-kind contributions such as staff time, equipment use, partner services, or other quantifiable support. This requirement is central to CIG because it encourages shared investment, broader partner engagement, and a stronger path to implementation after the grant period ends.
Administratively, the opportunity was posted on May 14, 2015, with an application deadline (original and current) of June 17, 2015, and an archive date of July 17, 2015. That gave applicants roughly a month to prepare and submit proposals, which usually implies that successful applicants would have had a relatively mature concept, established partners, and a clear plan for implementation and evaluation. The announcement number was USDA NRCS CIG SC 15 01, and the title was “Conservation Innovation Grants for FY 2015 Announcement for Program Funding for South Carolina.”
The announcement stated that the notice identified South Carolina program objectives and eligibility criteria and provided instructions needed to apply, implying that the full solicitation contained state-specific priorities, proposal content requirements, selection criteria, and submission procedures. For applicants who could not access the announcement electronically, the listed contact was Dorothea Martinez, Contract Specialist/Grants Specialist with the NRCS National Service Center (NSDT) in Fort Worth, Texas, with a phone number provided in the notice (though the number as written appears to contain formatting inconsistencies).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) opportunity for South Carolina (FY 2015)?
The Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) opportunity for South Carolina in FY 2015 was a discretionary, statewide competitive grant run by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) through the South Carolina State Office. It was designed to help applicants develop, test, demonstrate, and encourage adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies that move beyond standard practice.
What was the main purpose of this CIG funding?
The purpose was to move conservation forward by supporting projects that show new or improved methods for protecting natural resources. The emphasis was on innovations that can be replicated, scaled, or broadly adopted by producers, communities, or conservation partners across South Carolina.
What types of projects was NRCS looking for?
NRCS was looking for projects that go beyond standard practice and can demonstrate innovative conservation approaches or technologies. The opportunity emphasized practical demonstrations and outcomes that support wider adoption across the state.
How much total funding was expected to be available in South Carolina for FY 2015?
South Carolina NRCS anticipated a total of $300,000 available for awards through a statewide competitive process.
How many awards did NRCS expect to make?
The announcement indicated an expected six awards.
What was the award amount per project?
The announcement listed both the award ceiling and the award floor as $75,000. This effectively signaled that awards were intended to be made at a fixed amount of $75,000 per project.
What is the funding instrument type?
The funding instrument type was a grant.
What activity category does this opportunity fall under?
The activity category was natural resources.
What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
The program is associated with CFDA 10.912, the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), which is the broader NRCS program area under which CIG is commonly administered.
What were the key project timeline requirements?
Funded projects needed to begin implementation within 12 months of the grant award and had to be completed within 36 months of the award.
What does "begin implementation within 12 months" mean in practical terms?
It means funded projects were expected to be ready to move from planning into action relatively quickly after award, rather than spending an extended period in early-stage concept development.
How long could a project run under this opportunity?
Projects had to be completed within 36 months of the award, allowing time to run pilots, gather data, evaluate outcomes, and produce materials that support broader adoption.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility was broad and included individuals and a range of public, nonprofit, tribal, and academic entities. Eligible applicants included state governments; county governments; city or township governments; special district governments; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; and nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (other than higher education institutions).
Were individuals eligible to apply?
Yes. The opportunity indicated that applications would be accepted from eligible individuals, in addition to eligible entities.
Were nonprofit organizations eligible to apply?
Yes. Nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education) were listed as eligible applicants.
Were tribes eligible to apply?
Yes. Federally recognized Native American tribal governments were included, and the notice specifically highlighted federally recognized Indian Tribes among eligible applicants.
Were colleges and universities eligible to apply?
Yes. Both public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education were listed as eligible applicants.
Were state and local governments eligible to apply?
Yes. State governments, county governments, city or township governments, and special district governments were included as eligible applicants.
Did the announcement mention any additional eligible applicant categories?
Yes. The notice referenced that "others" could be eligible depending on details provided in the full announcement.
Was cost sharing or matching required?
Yes. Cost sharing or matching was required, meaning federal grant dollars were not intended to cover 100 percent of project costs.
What does the cost share requirement imply for applicants?
It implies applicants needed to bring non-federal resources to support the project. The notice described this requirement as central to CIG because it encourages shared investment, partner engagement, and a stronger path to implementation after the grant period ends.
What were the important dates for this FY 2015 South Carolina opportunity?
The opportunity was posted on May 14, 2015. The application deadline (original and current) was June 17, 2015. The archive date was July 17, 2015.
How much time did applicants have to submit after posting?
From May 14, 2015 to June 17, 2015, applicants had roughly about a month to prepare and submit proposals.
What was the announcement number and title?
The announcement number was USDA NRCS CIG SC 15 01. The title was "Conservation Innovation Grants for FY 2015 Announcement for Program Funding for South Carolina."
Did the notice indicate that there were South Carolina-specific objectives or priorities?
Yes. The announcement stated that the notice identified South Carolina program objectives and eligibility criteria and provided instructions needed to apply, implying the full solicitation contained state-specific priorities, proposal content requirements, selection criteria, and submission procedures.
Who was the contact person listed for applicants who could not access the announcement electronically?
The listed contact was Dorothea Martinez, Contract Specialist/Grants Specialist with the NRCS National Service Center (NSDT) in Fort Worth, Texas.
Was a phone number provided for the contact?
Yes, a phone number was provided in the notice, although it was noted that the number as written appears to contain formatting inconsistencies.
What selection approach was used for awards?
The opportunity was distributed through a statewide competitive process.
Why does the opportunity emphasize replication and scaling?
Because the purpose of the program was not only to test or demonstrate an innovation, but also to encourage adoption. The announcement emphasized ideas that can be replicated, scaled, or broadly adopted across the state.
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