Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NRCS RI CIG 16 01
Apply for USDA NRCS RI CIG 16 01
- The USDA-NRCS in the agriculture, environment, natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Rhode Island 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.
- This funding opportunity was created on May 04, 2016 and posted on May 04, 2016.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 03, 2016. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $75,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 30 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: 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), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Individuals, Small businesses.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Rhode Island Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) opportunity is a USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS) discretionary grant program (CFDA 10.912) designed to push conservation practice forward in ways that can realistically be adopted by farmers, land managers, and conservation partners across Rhode Island. The central goal is to stimulate the development and, more importantly, the adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies that protect and enhance natural resources while supporting agricultural production. A key theme in this program is leverage: CIG aims to multiply the impact of federal conservation dollars by pairing them with partner capacity, shared expertise, and practical demonstration projects that make it easier for others to copy and scale what works.
CIG is focused on moving proven or emerging conservation strategies into wider, real-world use. Rather than funding early-stage or purely academic work, the program emphasizes applying or demonstrating previously proven technologies and management systems in on-the-ground settings, with a clear eye toward adoption at scale. Successful projects are expected to produce results and deliverables that can be transferred into NRCS technical references, such as manuals and guides, or otherwise made available to the private sector and practitioners. The program also explicitly promotes collaboration and knowledge-sharing among communities, governments, and institutions, so that conservation advances are not locked inside a single organization but can be accessed and used by a broader range of land stewards.
Typical project types under this opportunity include pilot projects and field demonstrations that test implementation methods, refine how a practice is applied, or show its benefits under Rhode Island conditions. The program generally does not fund research, with one notable exception: on-farm conservation research is allowable when it is designed to answer a specific conservation question using a statistically valid approach. That means using farm-scale equipment on working farm fields, with an appropriate number of replications and a plan for statistical analysis. Even then, the research must be tightly connected to stimulating innovative natural resource management approaches that align with agricultural production, rather than exploratory or basic research.
Applicants may propose single-year or multi-year projects, but the total project period cannot exceed three years. Eligibility is broad and includes federally recognized Native American tribal governments, state and local governments (including counties, cities/townships, and special districts), public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education), public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, individuals, and small businesses. The notice is specific that proposals must come from eligible entities from Rhode Island, reflecting the state-focused nature of this funding round.
In terms of funding scale, the listed award ceiling is $75,000, and the opportunity anticipated up to 30 awards. The funding instrument is a grant, and the activity focus is squarely within agriculture, environment, and natural resources. The posting date for this opportunity was May 4, 2016, with an application closing date of June 3, 2016.
The selection process is structured and competitive. NRCS first screens submitted proposals for completeness and compliance with the requirements in the notice; incomplete or noncompliant submissions are removed from consideration and applicants are notified of elimination. Proposals that pass screening are evaluated by a technical peer review panel using the proposal evaluation criteria referenced in the solicitation instructions (section V.B). After technical review, proposals and associated peer review materials are forwarded to the Rhode Island Review Board, which makes recommendations to the NRCS Rhode Island Conservationist. Final selection decisions are made by the NRCS Rhode Island Conservationist, meaning the ultimate award choices rest with the state NRCS leadership after considering both technical scoring and state-level program priorities.
Overall, this grant opportunity is best suited for applicants who already have a conservation practice or approach that has demonstrated promise and who can credibly show how a field-scale demonstration, pilot implementation, or structured on-farm study will accelerate adoption, improve implementation guidance, and generate usable products for NRCS and practitioners. The strongest fit is practical innovation with clear pathways to replication, not open-ended research.
Rhode Island Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) - FAQs
What is the Rhode Island Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) opportunity?
The Rhode Island Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) opportunity is a discretionary grant program run by USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS) (CFDA 10.912). It is intended to move conservation practice forward in ways that can realistically be adopted by farmers, land managers, and conservation partners across Rhode Island.
What is the main goal of this CIG program?
The central goal is to stimulate the development and, especially, the adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies that protect and enhance natural resources while supporting agricultural production. A strong emphasis is placed on producing practical results that others can replicate and scale.
What does the program mean by "leverage"?
Does CIG fund early-stage research or purely academic studies?
Generally, no. The program emphasizes applying or demonstrating previously proven technologies and management systems in real, on-the-ground settings, with a clear focus on adoption at scale rather than early-stage or purely academic work.
Is any type of research allowed under this opportunity?
Yes, with a specific limitation: on-farm conservation research is allowable when it is designed to answer a specific conservation question using a statistically valid approach. This includes using farm-scale equipment on working farm fields, having an appropriate number of replications, and a plan for statistical analysis. The research must still be tightly connected to stimulating innovative natural resource management approaches that align with agricultural production, rather than exploratory or basic research.
What types of projects are typically funded?
Typical project types include pilot projects and field demonstrations that test implementation methods, refine how a practice is applied, or show the benefits of a practice under Rhode Island conditions.
What kinds of deliverables are successful projects expected to produce?
Successful projects are expected to produce results and deliverables that can be transferred into NRCS technical references (such as manuals and guides) or otherwise made available to the private sector and practitioners. The program also values outputs that support knowledge-sharing and broader use beyond a single organization.
How long can a project last?
Applicants may propose single-year or multi-year projects, but the total project period cannot exceed three years.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility includes: federally recognized Native American tribal governments; state and local governments (including counties, cities/townships, and special districts); public and private institutions of higher education; nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education); public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; individuals; and small businesses.
Does the applicant have to be based in Rhode Island?
Yes. The notice specifies that proposals must come from eligible entities from Rhode Island, consistent with the state-focused nature of this funding round.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The listed award ceiling is $75,000.
How many awards were anticipated?
The opportunity anticipated up to 30 awards.
What type of funding instrument is used?
The funding instrument is a grant.
What activity areas does this opportunity focus on?
The activity focus is within agriculture, environment, and natural resources.
When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?
The posting date was May 4, 2016, and the application closing date was June 3, 2016.
How does the selection process work?
The selection process is competitive and occurs in stages. NRCS first screens proposals for completeness and compliance with the notice requirements. Incomplete or noncompliant submissions are removed from consideration, and applicants are notified of elimination. Proposals that pass screening are evaluated by a technical peer review panel using the evaluation criteria referenced in the solicitation instructions (section V.B). Then proposals and peer review materials are forwarded to the Rhode Island Review Board, which makes recommendations to the NRCS Rhode Island Conservationist. Final selection decisions are made by the NRCS Rhode Island Conservationist.
What happens if a proposal is incomplete or does not meet the notice requirements?
Who makes the final award decisions?
Final selection decisions are made by the NRCS Rhode Island Conservationist, after considering the technical review and the Rhode Island Review Board recommendations.
What is the best fit for a strong CIG proposal under this opportunity?
This opportunity is best suited for applicants who already have a conservation practice or approach that has demonstrated promise and who can show that a field-scale demonstration, pilot implementation, or structured on-farm study will accelerate adoption, improve implementation guidance, and generate usable products for NRCS and practitioners. The strongest fit is practical innovation with a clear pathway to replication, not open-ended research.
What does "adoption at scale" mean in the context of this program?
In this context, adoption at scale means designing a project so that its outcomes, methods, and lessons can be used by other farmers, land managers, and conservation partners across Rhode Island. The program favors work that is transferable into guidance (like manuals and guides) or otherwise broadly shareable for wider implementation.
Does the program encourage collaboration?
Yes. The program explicitly promotes collaboration and knowledge-sharing among communities, governments, and institutions so that conservation advances are not limited to one organization but can be accessed and used by a broader range of land stewards.
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| Ohio Conservation Innovation Grant Apply for USDA NRCS OH CIG 17 01 Funding Number: USDA NRCS OH CIG 17 01 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service Category: Agriculture, Environment, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $75,000 |
| Arkansas Conservation Innovation Grant 2017 Apply for USDA NRCS AR CIG 17 01 Funding Number: USDA NRCS AR CIG 17 01 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Utah State Office Category: Agriculture, Environment, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $75,000 |
| Conservation Innovation Grant (FY) 2017 Announcement for Program Funding Apply for USDA NRCS NJ CIG 17 01 Funding Number: USDA NRCS NJ CIG 17 01 Agency: Department of Agriculture, New Jersey State Office Category: Agriculture, Environment, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $75,000 |
| North Dakota Conservation Innovation Grants Fiscal Year 2017 Apply for USDA NRCS ND CIG 17 01 Funding Number: USDA NRCS ND CIG 17 01 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Utah State Office Category: Agriculture, Environment, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $75,000 |
| Regional Conservation Partnership Program Apply for USDA NRCS NHQ RCPP 18 01 Funding Number: USDA NRCS NHQ RCPP 18 01 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service Category: Agriculture, Environment, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $10,000,000 |
| Kansas Conservation Innovation Grants FY 2017 Apply for USDA NRCS KS CIG 17 01 Funding Number: USDA NRCS KS CIG 17 01 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Washington State Office Category: Agriculture, Environment, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $50,000 |
| Iowa Conservation Collaboration Grants - Fiscal Year 2017 Apply for USDA NRCS IA CCG 17 01 Funding Number: USDA NRCS IA CCG 17 01 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Utah State Office Category: Agriculture, Environment, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Conservation Innovation Grant Apply for USDA NRCS ID CIG 17 01 Funding Number: USDA NRCS ID CIG 17 01 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service Category: Agriculture, Environment, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $75,000 |
| Conservation Innovation Grant Apply for USDA NRCS PR CIG 17 01 Funding Number: USDA NRCS PR CIG 17 01 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service Category: Agriculture, Environment, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $75,000 |
| Conservation Innovation Grant Apply for USDA NRCS NM CIG 17 01 Funding Number: USDA NRCS NM CIG 17 01 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service Category: Agriculture, Environment, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $75,000 |
| New Hampshire Conservation Innovation Grants - Fiscal Year 2017 Apply for USDA NRCS NH CIG 17 01 Funding Number: USDA NRCS NH CIG 17 01 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Utah State Office Category: Agriculture, Environment, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $75,000 |
| Conservation Innovation Grant Apply for USDA NRCS RI CIG 17 01 Funding Number: USDA NRCS RI CIG 17 01 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service Category: Agriculture, Environment, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $75,000 |
| Virginia Conservation Innovation Grant Apply for USDA NRCS VA CIG 17 01 Funding Number: USDA NRCS VA CIG 17 01 Agency: Department of Agriculture, USDA-NRCS-NHQ Category: Agriculture, Environment, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $75,000 |
| MI Conservation Innovation Grants for Fiscal Year 2017 Apply for USDA NRCS MI 17 01 Funding Number: USDA NRCS MI 17 01 Agency: Department of Agriculture, USDA-NRCS-NHQ Category: Agriculture, Environment, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $75,000 |
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