Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NRCS ME 08 01
Apply for USDA NRCS ME 08 01
- The Vermont State Office in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "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 Environmental Quality Incentives Program.
- This funding opportunity was created on Feb 1, 2008 and posted on Feb 1, 2008.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 25, 2008. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $100,000.00 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 4 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) opportunity is a competitive grant program run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to encourage new and better ways of conserving natural resources, with an emphasis on moving promising ideas into real-world use. This particular announcement covers the Fiscal Year 2008 Maine (ME) state competition under CFDA 10.912 (Environmental Quality Incentives Program). The central purpose is to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies, meaning proposals should go beyond routine conservation work and instead test, demonstrate, or accelerate the use of novel practices, tools, or systems that can improve conservation outcomes.
For FY 2008, Maine NRCS set aside up to $100,000 total for this statewide competition, with funding expected to support about four awards. Individual awards can be as large as $75,000, and there is no stated minimum award amount (award floor listed as $0). Projects are expected to run between one and three years, which signals that the program is designed for pilots, demonstrations, field validations, and other time-limited efforts that can show measurable results and produce lessons that others can adopt.
The announcement describes two main areas applicants can propose under: a Natural Resource Concerns Component and a Technology Component. While the notice does not provide detailed subtopics in the excerpt, the structure implies applicants can either focus on addressing specific conservation and resource challenges (such as soil, water, air, wildlife habitat, or related resource concerns relevant to Maine agriculture and working lands) or focus on the development, refinement, and field application of a technology that advances conservation practice. In either case, the emphasis is on innovation and adoption, so strong proposals typically connect their work to practical implementation, measurable conservation benefits, and a clear path for broader use beyond the grant period.
Eligibility is broadly open. Applications are invited from eligible government or non-government organizations as well as individuals located within the State of Maine. The listing categorizes eligibility as “unrestricted,” meaning many entity types may apply, though applicants still need to follow any specific conditions described in the full announcement. The funding mechanism is a discretionary grant, awarded through a statewide competitive process rather than first-come, first-served, so proposals will be reviewed and ranked against one another.
A cost-sharing or matching requirement applies, so applicants should expect to contribute non-federal resources (cash and/or allowable in-kind support) toward the project budget, consistent with the full program rules. This requirement is an important planning factor because it affects the total project financing, the budget narrative, and the documentation needed to show that match commitments are real and allowable.
The submission deadline for this competition was April 25, 2008, with proposals due by 4:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. Applications had to be received by the NRCS Vermont State Office, which handled intake for this opportunity. Submissions could be delivered by hand, mail, or overnight courier to the Conservation Innovation Grants Program, attention Pat Pickett, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Suite 105, 356 Mountain View Drive, Colchester, Vermont 05446. Electronic submission was available through Grants.gov at www.grants.gov/apply by following the site instructions. The funding opportunity number is USDA NRCS ME 08 01, which applicants would use to locate the announcement and associated application package.
For questions or help accessing the full announcement, the listed point of contact is Patricia Pickett, Contract Specialist, at 802-951-6796 ext. 224, with an office email address referenced in the notice. Additional details and updates were also linked through the NRCS Maine homepage and the official announcement materials.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG), FY 2008 Maine (ME) State Competition
What is the Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) program?
The Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) program is a competitive grant program run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). It supports new and improved approaches to conserving natural resources, with a strong emphasis on moving promising ideas into real-world use.
Which specific opportunity does this announcement cover?
This announcement covers the Fiscal Year (FY) 2008 Maine (ME) state competition for Conservation Innovation Grants under CFDA 10.912, associated with the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP).
What is the main purpose of this CIG competition?
The central purpose is to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies. Proposals are expected to go beyond routine conservation work and instead test, demonstrate, or accelerate the adoption of novel practices, tools, or systems that improve conservation outcomes.
How much funding is available in total for the FY 2008 Maine competition?
Maine NRCS set aside up to $100,000 total for this statewide competition.
About how many awards were expected to be made?
Funding was expected to support about four awards.
What is the maximum award amount for a single project?
Individual awards can be as large as $75,000.
Is there a minimum award amount?
No minimum award amount is stated. The award floor is listed as $0.
How long are projects expected to last?
Projects are expected to run between one and three years.
What types of projects does CIG typically support under this announcement?
Based on the stated purpose and time frame, the competition is designed for pilots, demonstrations, field validations, and other time-limited efforts that show measurable results and generate lessons that others can adopt.
What are the main proposal areas described in the announcement?
The announcement describes two main areas applicants can propose under: (1) a Natural Resource Concerns Component and (2) a Technology Component.
What is the Natural Resource Concerns Component?
It is a proposal area focused on addressing specific conservation and resource challenges. The excerpt suggests this could include concerns such as soil, water, air, wildlife habitat, or related resource issues relevant to Maine agriculture and working lands, with an emphasis on innovation and adoption.
What is the Technology Component?
It is a proposal area focused on the development, refinement, and field application of a technology that advances conservation practice, again with an emphasis on innovation and adoption.
What does "innovation" mean in the context of this opportunity?
Innovation is described as work that goes beyond routine conservation activities. The intent is to test, demonstrate, or speed up the use of novel practices, tools, or systems, and to show practical implementation and measurable conservation benefits.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broadly open to eligible government or non-government organizations, as well as individuals, located within the State of Maine. The eligibility category is listed as "unrestricted," meaning many entity types may apply, subject to any specific conditions in the full announcement.
Is this a competitive grant or first-come, first-served?
This is a competitive grant. Awards are discretionary and made through a statewide competitive process where proposals are reviewed and ranked against one another.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
Yes. A cost-sharing or matching requirement applies, meaning applicants should expect to contribute non-federal resources (cash and/or allowable in-kind support) toward the project budget, consistent with the full program rules.
Why is the matching requirement important for applicants?
It affects total project financing, the project budget and narrative, and the documentation needed to show match commitments are real and allowable.
What was the application deadline for this competition?
The submission deadline was April 25, 2008, and proposals were due by 4:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.
Where were applications required to be received?
Applications had to be received by the NRCS Vermont State Office, which handled intake for this opportunity.
What delivery methods were allowed for submitting an application?
Submissions could be delivered by hand, mail, or overnight courier. Electronic submission was also available through Grants.gov.
What is the physical mailing address for submitting applications?
Conservation Innovation Grants Program, attention Pat Pickett, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Suite 105, 356 Mountain View Drive, Colchester, Vermont 05446.
How could applicants submit electronically?
Applicants could submit through Grants.gov at www.grants.gov/apply by following the site instructions.
What is the funding opportunity number for this announcement?
The funding opportunity number is USDA NRCS ME 08 01. Applicants would use this identifier to locate the announcement and associated application package.
What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA number is 10.912 (Environmental Quality Incentives Program).
Who is the point of contact for questions?
The listed point of contact is Patricia Pickett, Contract Specialist, at 802-951-6796 ext. 224. The notice also references an office email address.
Where could applicants look for additional details or updates?
Additional details and updates were linked through the NRCS Maine homepage and the official announcement materials.
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