Maine Conservation Innovation Grant | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) - Maine Conservation Innovation Grant (CIG)

What is the Maine Conservation Innovation Grant (CIG)?

The Maine Conservation Innovation Grant (CIG) is a USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) competitive grant program that aims to speed up the real-world use of innovative conservation practices and technologies in agriculture.

What is the main purpose of this grant program?

The core goal is to support projects that improve environmental enhancement and protection while still working in tandem with agricultural production. The program is focused on adoption and implementation in working agricultural systems rather than purely academic outcomes.

What types of projects does CIG want to fund?

CIG is intended to fund projects that move proven or emerging conservation solutions into broader adoption. The emphasis is on pilot projects and field demonstrations that show how a practice or technology works on the ground and how it can be scaled.

Does this program fund basic or exploratory research?

No. The program generally does not pay for basic or exploratory research. The intent is to accelerate use and adoption of conservation innovations that already have evidence behind them.

Is any type of research allowed under this opportunity?

Yes, with a narrow exception: on-farm conservation research may be supported. This is limited to farm-based investigations that answer a specific conservation question using a statistically valid study design, with an appropriate number of replications and statistical analysis, using farm-scale equipment on actual farm fields.

What does NRCS expect if on-farm conservation research is proposed?

NRCS will only support on-farm research that clearly stimulates innovative approaches to natural resource management in working agricultural systems. The work should be closely tied to practical adoption and decision-making, rather than academic experimentation for its own sake.

What is meant by focusing on "real-world use" and "broader adoption"?

It means the project should be designed to demonstrate and encourage uptake by farmers, land managers, and partner organizations. CIG favors approaches that can be replicated and scaled beyond a single site or organization.

Are market-based approaches allowed?

Yes. The program encourages innovative approaches that may include market-based systems, as long as they are tied to measurable conservation outcomes.

How should projects support sharing and transfer of innovation?

CIG prioritizes sharing skills, knowledge, technologies, and facilities across communities, governments, and institutions. The overall idea is that conservation innovations should not remain isolated to a single farm or organization, but should be accessible and replicable for broader use.

What is a key expectation about the outcomes of funded projects?

A key expectation is that successful approaches will be transferable into NRCS technical manuals and guides, or adopted by the private sector, so the results become widely usable beyond the initial project.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligible applicants include federally recognized Native American tribal governments, state and local governments (including counties, cities/townships, and special districts), nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status, public and private institutions of higher education, individuals, and small businesses.

What agency is sponsoring this opportunity?

The sponsoring agency is USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS).

What type of funding instrument is used?

The funding instrument is a discretionary grant under CFDA (now Assistance Listing) 10.912.

How long can a project last?

This Maine-specific notice allows proposals for single-year or multi-year projects, with a maximum project period of three years.

What is the maximum award amount?

Awards under this opportunity have a ceiling of $75,000 per project.

How many awards were anticipated?

The program anticipated making about five awards.

When was the opportunity posted?

The opportunity was posted on March 23, 2016.

What was the application deadline?

The application deadline was June 3, 2016.

What happens after an application is submitted?

Applications go through multiple steps. Proposals are first screened for completeness and compliance, and incomplete or noncompliant submissions are removed from consideration.

How are complete proposals evaluated?

Complete proposals are evaluated by a technical peer review panel using the evaluation criteria referenced in the solicitation instructions (section V.B.).

Who makes the final funding decision?

After peer review, proposals and reviews are forwarded to the Maine NRCS Review Board, which makes recommendations to the Maine NRCS State Conservationist. The Maine NRCS State Conservationist makes the final funding selections.

Can proposals be rejected before peer review?

Yes. Proposals that are incomplete or noncompliant are removed from consideration during the initial screening step, before technical peer review.

What should an applicant keep in mind about the program's priorities?

Based on the description, the strongest alignment is with projects that demonstrate conservation practices or technologies with evidence behind them, show how they work at field scale, and emphasize transferability, replication, and adoption by farmers and partners.