Kansas NRCS Announces Funding for Innovation Grants

Salina, Kansas--NRCS Acting State Conservationist Astor F. Boozer announced $200,000 available funding for new technology or approaches under the Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG). Through innovation, CIG is an effort to address some of the state's most pressing natural resource conservation needs. CIG is a component of the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). NRCS is an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

"Today, effectively getting conservation on the ground means keeping pace with a rapidly changing agricultural environment," said Boozer. "CIG is intended to cultivate a public-private sector relationship to develop and implement innovative technologies and approaches to environmental enhancement and protection on working agricultural land," he continued.

State, Tribal, and local governmental entities, non-governmental organizations, and individuals may apply. Project proposals should demonstrate the use of innovative technologies or approaches to address a natural resource concern. Project results are expected to improve and create the transfer of conservation technologies, management systems, and innovative approaches (such as market-based systems) into NRCS technical manuals or guides or to the private sector.

Applications are due in the Kansas NRCS state office by April 8, 2008. Project proposals will be evaluated with the assistance of the Kansas Technical Committee based on the criteria identified in the announcement of Fiscal Year 2008 program funding.

Selected applicants may receive grants up to 50 percent of the total project cost. Individual grant awards may not exceed $50,000. Applicants must provide non-federal matching funds for at least 50 percent of the project cost. Of the non-federal matching funds, 50 percent may be from in-kind contributions. Projects may be single or multi-year, not to exceed three years.

Additional information, the request for proposals, and related forms are located on the Kansas NRCS CIG Web page and at Grants.gov.

Last Modified: 02/29/2008