Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NRCS SC CIG 16 01
Apply for USDA NRCS SC CIG 16 01
- The USDA-NRCS in the agriculture, environment, natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "South Carolina 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 Apr 25, 2016 and posted on Apr 25, 2016.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 31, 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 50 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 South Carolina Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) opportunity is a competitive grant program run by USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to speed up the real-world use of innovative conservation practices and technologies that improve natural resources while supporting agricultural production. The central idea is not to invent brand-new concepts in a lab, but to take conservation approaches that have already shown promise and help move them into broader, practical adoption. Projects are expected to produce results that can be transferred into NRCS technical references (such as manuals and guides) or into the private sector, so that successful approaches can be repeated, scaled, and used by more producers and partners across the state.
This funding focuses on "on-the-ground" innovation, meaning pilot projects, field demonstrations, and applied efforts that show how a practice works under real operating conditions. The emphasis is on scaling proven or emerging conservation strategies and making them easier for farmers, land managers, and communities to adopt. NRCS also highlights collaboration and knowledge-sharing: proposals should help spread skills, tools, technologies, and lessons learned among local communities, governments, universities, nonprofits, and other institutions, with the goal of making scientific and technical advancements accessible to a wider set of users rather than staying isolated in one organization.
CIG is generally not meant to support traditional research projects. The main exception is on-farm conservation research, which NRCS defines quite specifically: it must answer a clear conservation-related question using a statistically valid study design, include an appropriate number of replications, and analyze results statistically, all while using farm-scale equipment on actual farm fields. In other words, if a project includes research elements, it needs to look like a rigorous on-farm test that directly informs management decisions and practical conservation outcomes, not basic or exploratory research detached from field application. Any research funded through CIG must still tie back to innovative natural resource management in working agricultural systems.
Projects may be single-year or multi-year, but they cannot exceed three years. This specific South Carolina funding notice is open to eligible entities located in or operating for South Carolina, including federally recognized Tribal governments, state and local governments, nonprofits (including 501(c)(3) organizations), public and private institutions of higher education, individuals, and small businesses. The listing also includes special district governments and certain housing authorities, reflecting a broad eligibility net as long as the project aligns with conservation innovation goals and meets NRCS requirements.
The selection process is structured and competitive. After submission, proposals are first screened for completeness and compliance with the notice requirements; incomplete or noncompliant applications are removed from consideration and applicants are notified. Compliant applications are then scored by a technical peer review panel using the evaluation criteria referenced in the notice instructions. Following peer review, proposals and reviews are forwarded to the South Carolina State Technical Committee, which makes recommendations to the NRCS State Conservationist. The State Conservationist makes the final award selections, meaning the final decision blends technical scoring with state-level conservation priorities and practical fit.
For this particular opportunity posting (Funding Opportunity Number USDA NRCS SC CIG 16 01), the program is categorized as a discretionary grant under CFDA 10.912 (Agriculture/Environment/Natural Resources). The posted award ceiling is $75,000 per award, and the notice lists an expected 50 awards. The original and current closing date shown is May 31, 2016, and the opportunity was posted on April 25, 2016.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): South Carolina Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG)
What is the South Carolina Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) opportunity?
The South Carolina CIG opportunity is a competitive grant program run by USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). It is designed to speed up real-world adoption of innovative conservation practices and technologies that improve natural resources while also supporting agricultural production.
What is the main goal of CIG?
The main goal is to move conservation approaches that have already shown promise into broader, practical adoption. The program emphasizes taking proven or emerging strategies and helping them scale in working, on-the-ground conditions so they can be repeated and used by more producers and partners.
Is this grant meant to fund brand-new inventions or lab-based concepts?
No. The central idea is not to invent brand-new concepts in a lab. Instead, CIG focuses on conservation approaches and technologies that have already demonstrated potential and need support to be implemented more widely in practical settings.
What does NRCS mean by "on-the-ground" innovation?
"On-the-ground" innovation refers to applied efforts such as pilot projects, field demonstrations, and other practical implementations that show how a conservation practice works under real operating conditions. The focus is on adoption and scaling rather than isolated experimentation.
What kinds of results are projects expected to produce?
Projects are expected to produce results that can be transferred into NRCS technical references (for example, manuals and guides) or into the private sector. The intent is for successful approaches to be repeatable, scalable, and usable by more producers and partners across South Carolina.
Does CIG emphasize sharing information and collaboration?
Yes. NRCS highlights collaboration and knowledge-sharing. Proposals should help spread skills, tools, technologies, and lessons learned among communities, governments, universities, nonprofits, and other institutions so that scientific and technical advancements are accessible to more users.
Are traditional research projects eligible for CIG funding?
Generally, no. CIG is generally not meant to support traditional research projects. The emphasis is on applied, field-based innovation and adoption rather than research disconnected from practical implementation.
Is any kind of research allowed under CIG?
Yes, but only in a specific form: on-farm conservation research. Any research elements in a CIG project must align with NRCS's definition and still tie back to innovative natural resource management in working agricultural systems.
What qualifies as on-farm conservation research under this opportunity?
On-farm conservation research must (1) answer a clear conservation-related question, (2) use a statistically valid study design, (3) include an appropriate number of replications, and (4) analyze results statistically. It must be conducted with farm-scale equipment on actual farm fields.
How long can a CIG project last?
Projects may be single-year or multi-year, but they cannot exceed three years.
Who is eligible to apply for the South Carolina CIG opportunity?
The notice is open to eligible entities located in or operating for South Carolina, including federally recognized Tribal governments, state and local governments, nonprofits (including 501(c)(3) organizations), public and private institutions of higher education, individuals, and small businesses. The listing also includes special district governments and certain housing authorities, provided the project aligns with CIG conservation innovation goals and meets NRCS requirements.
Does an applicant have to be physically located in South Carolina?
The eligibility language includes entities located in or operating for South Carolina. Based on the posting description, projects must be aligned with South Carolina and meet NRCS requirements for this state-focused opportunity.
How are applications reviewed and selected?
The process is competitive and structured. Proposals are first screened for completeness and compliance with the notice requirements. Compliant proposals are scored by a technical peer review panel using the evaluation criteria referenced in the notice instructions. After peer review, proposals and reviews go to the South Carolina State Technical Committee for recommendations to the NRCS State Conservationist. The NRCS State Conservationist makes the final award selections.
What happens if an application is incomplete or noncompliant?
Incomplete or noncompliant applications are removed from consideration, and applicants are notified.
Who makes the final decision on awards?
The NRCS State Conservationist makes the final award selections, after considering technical peer review scoring and recommendations from the South Carolina State Technical Committee.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this posting?
The Funding Opportunity Number is USDA NRCS SC CIG 16 01.
What is the CFDA number and program category listed for this opportunity?
This opportunity is listed under CFDA 10.912 and is categorized as a discretionary grant in the Agriculture/Environment/Natural Resources area.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling) for this opportunity?
The posted award ceiling is $75,000 per award.
How many awards does the notice expect to make?
The notice lists an expected 50 awards.
When was this opportunity posted and when was it due?
The opportunity was posted on April 25, 2016. The original and current closing date shown is May 31, 2016.
What should a competitive CIG proposal emphasize based on this description?
Based on the description, proposals should emphasize practical, field-based implementation; adoption and scaling of promising conservation approaches; transferability of results into NRCS technical references or the private sector; and collaboration and knowledge-sharing that makes tools and lessons learned accessible beyond a single organization.
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| Iowa Conservation Innovation Grants Fiscal Year 2016 Apply for USDA NRCS IA CIG 16 01 Funding Number: USDA NRCS IA CIG 16 01 Agency: USDA-NRCS-UTSO Category: Agriculture, Environment, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $75,000 |
| Virginia Conservation Innovation Grants Apply for USDA NRCS VA CIG 16 01 Funding Number: USDA NRCS VA CIG 16 01 Agency: USDA-NRCS Category: Agriculture, Environment, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $75,000 |
| Rhode Island Conservation Innovation Grants Apply for USDA NRCS RI CIG 16 01 Funding Number: USDA NRCS RI CIG 16 01 Agency: USDA-NRCS Category: Agriculture, Environment, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $75,000 |
| South Dakota Conservation Innovation Grants Apply for USDA NRCS SD CIG 16 01 Funding Number: USDA NRCS SD CIG 16 01 Agency: USDA-NRCS Category: Agriculture, Environment, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $75,000 |
| Agriculture and Food Research Initiative: Water for Agriculture Challenge Area Apply for USDA NIFA AFRI 005822 Funding Number: USDA NIFA AFRI 005822 Agency: USDA-NIFA Category: Agriculture, Environment, Natural Resources Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Arkansas CIG Announcement for FY2016 Apply for USDA NRCS AR CIG 16 01 Funding Number: USDA NRCS AR CIG 16 01 Agency: USDA-NRCS Category: Agriculture, Environment, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $75,000 |
| Illinois Monarch Butterfly Habitat Improvement Fiscal Year 2016 Apply for USDA NRCS IL ACEP 16 01 Funding Number: USDA NRCS IL ACEP 16 01 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service Category: Agriculture, Environment, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $750,000 |
| 2017 National Conservation Innovation Grants APF Apply for USDA NRCS NHQ CIG 17 01 Funding Number: USDA NRCS NHQ CIG 17 01 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service Category: Agriculture, Environment, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $2,000,000 |
| Maine - Conservation Innovation Grant Apply for USDA NRCS ME 17 01 Funding Number: USDA NRCS ME 17 01 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service Category: Agriculture, Environment, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $75,000 |
| 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 |
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