Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NRCS KYSO 14 1

  • The Kentucky State Office in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Kentucky NRCS EQIP CIG Grant 2014" 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 14, 2014 and posted on Feb 12, 2014.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 25, 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 $150,000.00 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 2 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.
  • CIG applicants must be a Federally recognized Indian Tribe, State or local unit of government, non governmental organization, or individual. To be eligible for CIG, projects must involve landowners who meet the EQIP eligibility requirements set forth in 16 USC 3839aa 1. Additional information regarding EQIP eligibility requirements can be found at http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/programs/financial/eqip. Participating producers are not required to have an EQIP contract. C. Matching Funds Requirements Selected applicants may receive CIG grants of up to 50 percent of their total project cost not to exceed 75,000. CIG recipients must match the USDA funds awarded on a dollar for dollar basis from non Federal sources with cash and in kind contributions. Of the applicant s required match (at least 50 percent of the total project budget), the contribution from cash sources must be at least 50 of the federal request the remainder may come from in kind contributions. The limit on in kind contributions does not apply to projects carried out by a Beginning Farmer or Rancher, Limited Resource Farmer or Rancher, Federally recognized Indian Tribes, members of Federally recognized Indian Tribes, or a community based organization comprised of or representing them. Instead, the contribution from cash sources must be at least 25 of the federal request the remainder may come from in kind contributions. This exception is intended to help these individuals and entities meet the statutory requirements for receiving a CIG. Matching funds must be secured at time of application. Applications should include written verification of commitments of matching support (including both cash and in kind contributions) from third parties. Additional information about matching funds can be found at 2 CFR 215.
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Opportunity Summary:

The Kentucky NRCS EQIP Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) opportunity for 2014 (Funding Opportunity Number USDA NRCS KYSO 14 1) was a competitive grant program offered by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service through its Kentucky State Office. It was open to applicants anywhere in the Commonwealth of Kentucky and was designed to support practical, on-the-ground conservation innovation tied to agricultural production and environmental improvement. The program anticipated up to $150,000 in total funding for fiscal year 2014, with an expectation of making about two awards. Individual awards could be as high as $75,000, with no stated minimum award amount. Projects were expected to run between one and three years.

The core purpose of CIG under EQIP (CFDA 10.912, Environmental Quality Incentives Program) was to speed up the adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies by helping partners demonstrate and implement ideas that already have a strong likelihood of working. A key point in this announcement is that CIG was not meant to fund basic research. Projects centered on testing hypotheses, generating new scientific proof-of-concept, or conducting stand-alone research did not qualify. Instead, CIG funds were intended for applying or demonstrating conservation technologies and management systems that have already been studied enough to be considered proven and ready for broader use. The expectation was that successful projects would lead to technology transfer, meaning the results could be incorporated into NRCS policies and technical guidance (manuals, field guides, references) or adopted by the private sector. In practice, that emphasis translated into pilot projects, field demonstrations, and real-world implementation work that could be replicated by producers and conservation partners across Kentucky and beyond.

Eligibility was broad but specific: applicants could be a federally recognized Indian Tribe, a state or local unit of government, a non-governmental organization, or an individual. Even though participating producers were not required to hold an EQIP contract, projects still had to involve landowners who meet EQIP eligibility requirements under federal law (16 USC 3839aa-1), which ties the work directly to the EQIP framework and to eligible agricultural land and producers. In other words, while the grant recipient could be an organization or individual applicant, the project itself needed to connect to eligible landowners and conservation delivery consistent with EQIP rules.

A major structural feature of this opportunity was its cost-sharing requirement. CIG grants could cover up to 50 percent of total project costs, meaning recipients had to provide a dollar-for-dollar match from non-federal sources. Matching contributions could include both cash and in-kind support, but the announcement set a minimum cash requirement: at least 50 percent of the federal request had to be matched with cash, with the remaining portion of the match allowed to be in-kind. There was an important exception intended to reduce barriers for certain underserved applicants and communities: beginning farmers or ranchers, limited resource farmers or ranchers, federally recognized Indian Tribes (and their members), and qualifying community-based organizations representing them could meet a lower cash threshold, with cash required to be at least 25 percent of the federal request and the rest eligible as in-kind. Regardless of category, matching funds had to be secured at the time of application, and applications were expected to include written verification of match commitments, including documentation of third-party cash or in-kind contributions. The program referenced federal administrative guidance on matching (including 2 CFR 215) as a source for additional detail.

In terms of timing and administration, the opportunity was posted in February 2014, with an application deadline of April 25, 2014 (original and current closing date were the same), and it was archived on May 25, 2014. The awarding agency was the Kentucky State Office, and the announcement provided a point of contact for applicants who could not access the full electronic posting: Tibor Horvath, Nutrient Management Specialist, reachable by phone at 859-224-7413.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - Kentucky NRCS EQIP Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) 2014

What is the Kentucky NRCS EQIP Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) opportunity for 2014?

It was a competitive grant program offered by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) through its Kentucky State Office. The opportunity supported practical, on-the-ground conservation innovation connected to agricultural production and environmental improvement across the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this announcement?

The Funding Opportunity Number listed for this opportunity was USDA NRCS KYSO 14 1.

Which federal program is CIG associated with in this announcement?

This CIG opportunity was offered under EQIP (Environmental Quality Incentives Program), identified as CFDA 10.912.

How much total funding was anticipated for fiscal year 2014?

The announcement anticipated up to $150,000 in total funding for fiscal year 2014.

How many awards did NRCS expect to make?

The announcement indicated an expectation of making about two awards.

What was the maximum award amount per project?

Individual awards could be as high as $75,000.

Was there a minimum award amount stated?

No minimum award amount was stated in the information provided.

How long could projects run?

Projects were expected to run between one and three years.

Who could apply for this Kentucky CIG opportunity?

Eligibility included federally recognized Indian Tribes, state or local units of government, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and individuals.

Where did applicants need to be located to apply?

The opportunity was open to applicants anywhere in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

What was the main purpose of CIG under EQIP?

The core purpose was to accelerate adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies by helping partners demonstrate and implement ideas with a strong likelihood of success in real-world settings.

Did this program fund basic research?

No. The announcement emphasized that CIG was not meant to fund basic research.

What kinds of projects were explicitly described as not qualifying?

Projects centered on testing hypotheses, generating new scientific proof-of-concept, or conducting stand-alone research did not qualify based on the information provided.

What types of activities did the program intend to support?

The announcement emphasized applying or demonstrating conservation technologies and management systems that had already been studied enough to be considered proven and ready for broader use. This emphasis aligns with activities like pilot projects, field demonstrations, and real-world implementation work intended to be replicated.

What does "technology transfer" mean in the context of this opportunity?

The expectation was that successful projects would produce results that could be incorporated into NRCS policies and technical guidance (such as manuals, field guides, and references) or adopted by the private sector.

Did participating producers need to have an EQIP contract to be involved?

No. Participating producers were not required to hold an EQIP contract.

If an EQIP contract was not required, what EQIP-related requirement still applied?

Projects still had to involve landowners who meet EQIP eligibility requirements under federal law (16 USC 3839aa-1), linking the work to eligible landowners, eligible agricultural land, and EQIP-consistent conservation delivery.

What was the cost-share requirement for this CIG grant?

CIG grants could cover up to 50 percent of total project costs, requiring recipients to provide a dollar-for-dollar match from non-federal sources.

What types of matching contributions were allowed?

Matching contributions could include both cash and in-kind support, as described in the announcement.

Was there a minimum cash requirement for the match?

Yes. At least 50 percent of the federal request had to be matched with cash, with the remaining match allowed to be in-kind.

Was there any exception to the standard cash match requirement?

Yes. Beginning farmers or ranchers, limited resource farmers or ranchers, federally recognized Indian Tribes (and their members), and qualifying community-based organizations representing them could meet a lower cash threshold.

What was the reduced cash threshold for qualifying applicants under the exception?

For those categories, cash required could be at least 25 percent of the federal request, with the remainder of the match eligible as in-kind.

When did matching funds need to be secured?

Matching funds had to be secured at the time of application.

What documentation was expected to verify match commitments?

Applications were expected to include written verification of match commitments, including documentation of third-party cash or in-kind contributions.

Did the announcement reference any federal guidance on matching?

Yes. It referenced federal administrative guidance on matching, including 2 CFR 215, as a source for additional detail.

When was the opportunity posted?

The opportunity was posted in February 2014.

What was the application deadline?

The application deadline was April 25, 2014. The original and current closing date were the same.

When was the opportunity archived?

The opportunity was archived on May 25, 2014.

Which office served as the awarding agency for this opportunity?

The awarding agency was the Kentucky NRCS State Office.

Who was the point of contact listed for applicants who could not access the full electronic posting?

The point of contact was Tibor Horvath, Nutrient Management Specialist.

What phone number was provided for the point of contact?

The phone number provided was 859-224-7413.

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