Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NRCS AR CIG 17 01
The Arkansas Conservation Innovation Grant (CIG) 2017 opportunity was a discretionary grant program intended to help move practical, proven conservation ideas into wider real-world use across Arkansas agriculture. The central goal was to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies that improve environmental outcomes while supporting agricultural production. Rather than funding early-stage or laboratory research, the program emphasized applying or demonstrating conservation practices and tools that have already shown promise, with a clear focus on increasing adoption and scaling up emerging strategies. Projects were expected to generate results that could be transferred into USDA NRCS technical manuals and guides or otherwise taken up by the private sector, helping new methods become part of standard conservation practice.
Funding supported hands-on, on-the-ground conservation work such as pilot projects and field demonstrations, with an emphasis on sharing knowledge, skills, technologies, and facilities among producers, communities, governments, and institutions. The intention was to make conservation advances accessible to a broader group of users, not just the project team. While traditional research projects were generally not eligible, the program did allow on-farm conservation research in a specific sense: studies designed to answer a defined conservation question using statistically valid methods (including adequate replication and analysis) while using farm-scale equipment on actual farm fields. Even then, any research component needed to directly stimulate innovative natural resource management approaches tied to agricultural production.
Proposals could be submitted for single-year or multi-year efforts, but the total project period could not exceed three years. Eligibility was broad and included Indian Tribes, state and local governments (including counties, cities or townships, and special districts), public and private institutions of higher education, federally recognized tribal governments, nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education), individuals, for-profit organizations other than small businesses, and small businesses. In other words, the opportunity was open to a wide range of applicants who could credibly implement and demonstrate conservation innovation in Arkansas.
Applications went through a structured review process. First, proposals were screened for completeness and compliance with the solicitation requirements; incomplete or noncompliant submissions were removed from consideration and applicants were notified of elimination. Complete proposals received by the deadline were then evaluated by a technical peer review panel using proposal evaluation criteria referenced in the program instructions (section V.B.). After technical review, proposals and reviewer input were forwarded to the Arkansas Review Board, which made recommendations to the NRCS State Conservationist. The NRCS State Conservationist made the final award selections.
Key administrative details included the funding opportunity title "Arkansas Conservation Innovation Grant 2017" and opportunity number "USDA NRCS AR CIG 17 01." It was associated with CFDA number 10.912 and categorized under Agriculture, Environment, and Natural Resources. The opportunity was created on December 23, 2016, with an original closing date of March 3, 2017. The maximum award amount (award ceiling) was $75,000, and the program anticipated making about five awards. The agency listed was the Department of Agriculture (with the notice referencing NRCS and the Arkansas selection process), and the overall purpose remained consistent throughout: encourage practical demonstration and adoption of conservation innovations that can be replicated and integrated into broader NRCS guidance or private-sector practice.Apply for USDA NRCS AR CIG 17 01
- The Department of Agriculture, Utah State Office in the agriculture, environment, natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Arkansas Conservation Innovation Grant 2017" 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 Dec 23, 2016.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 03, 2017. (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 5 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), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Individuals, For profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Arkansas Conservation Innovation Grant (CIG) 2017
What is the Arkansas Conservation Innovation Grant (CIG) 2017?
The Arkansas Conservation Innovation Grant (CIG) 2017 was a discretionary grant program designed to help move practical, proven conservation ideas into wider real-world use across Arkansas agriculture. Its focus was on taking conservation approaches and technologies that have already shown promise and helping them reach broader adoption.
What was the main goal of this grant opportunity?
The central goal was to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies that improve environmental outcomes while supporting agricultural production in Arkansas.
What kinds of projects were the program trying to fund?
Funding was aimed at hands-on, on-the-ground conservation work such as pilot projects and field demonstrations. Projects were expected to emphasize practical application, demonstration, and scaling up of conservation practices and tools that have already demonstrated promise.
Was this grant intended to fund early-stage research or laboratory research?
No. The opportunity emphasized applying or demonstrating conservation practices and tools that have already shown promise, rather than funding early-stage or laboratory research.
Are any research activities allowed under this program?
Traditional research projects were generally not eligible. However, the program did allow on-farm conservation research in a specific sense: studies designed to answer a defined conservation question using statistically valid methods (including adequate replication and analysis) while using farm-scale equipment on actual farm fields. Any research component still needed to directly stimulate innovative natural resource management approaches tied to agricultural production.
What does the program mean by "on-farm conservation research"?
It refers to farm-based studies that (1) address a defined conservation question, (2) use statistically valid methods with adequate replication and analysis, and (3) are conducted using farm-scale equipment on real farm fields. The research must directly support innovative natural resource management connected to agricultural production.
What outcomes were funded projects expected to produce?
Projects were expected to generate results that could be transferred into USDA NRCS technical manuals and guides or otherwise taken up by the private sector, helping new methods become part of standard conservation practice.
What was the emphasis on knowledge sharing and broader use?
The program emphasized sharing knowledge, skills, technologies, and facilities among producers, communities, governments, and institutions. The intent was to make conservation advances accessible to a broader group of users, not only the project team.
How long could a project last?
Proposals could be submitted for single-year or multi-year projects, but the total project period could not exceed three years.
What was the maximum award amount for this opportunity?
The award ceiling (maximum award amount) was $75,000.
How many awards were expected to be made?
The program anticipated making about five awards.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility was broad and included: Indian Tribes; state and local governments (including counties, cities or townships, and special districts); public and private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments; nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education); individuals; for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses.
Are individuals allowed to apply?
Yes. Individuals were listed among eligible applicant types.
Are nonprofits eligible, and does the nonprofit need a specific status?
Yes. Nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education) were included as eligible applicants.
Are tribes and tribal governments eligible?
Yes. Eligibility included Indian Tribes and federally recognized tribal governments.
Are for-profit organizations eligible?
Yes. Eligibility included for-profit organizations other than small businesses, and also included small businesses as a separate eligible category.
Are colleges and universities eligible to apply?
Yes. Both public and private institutions of higher education were included in the eligibility list.
Which agency and program identifiers are associated with this opportunity?
The agency listed was the Department of Agriculture, with the notice referencing NRCS and the Arkansas selection process. The funding opportunity title was "Arkansas Conservation Innovation Grant 2017" and the opportunity number was "USDA NRCS AR CIG 17 01." It was associated with CFDA number 10.912.
What program areas or categories did this opportunity fall under?
The opportunity was categorized under Agriculture, Environment, and Natural Resources.
When was the opportunity created and when did it close?
The opportunity was created on December 23, 2016. The original closing date was March 3, 2017.
How were applications reviewed and selected?
Applications went through several steps: (1) screening for completeness and compliance with solicitation requirements, where incomplete or noncompliant submissions were eliminated and applicants were notified; (2) evaluation by a technical peer review panel using proposal evaluation criteria referenced in the program instructions (section V.B.); (3) forwarding of proposals and reviewer input to the Arkansas Review Board for recommendations; and (4) final award selections made by the NRCS State Conservationist.
What happens if an application is incomplete or does not comply with the solicitation requirements?
Incomplete or noncompliant submissions were removed from consideration during the initial screening stage, and applicants were notified of elimination.
Who made the final award decision?
The NRCS State Conservationist made the final award selections, based on recommendations and reviewer input provided through the Arkansas review process.
What is the role of the technical peer review panel?
The technical peer review panel evaluated complete proposals received by the deadline using the proposal evaluation criteria referenced in the program instructions (section V.B.).
What is the role of the Arkansas Review Board?
After technical review, the proposals and reviewer input were forwarded to the Arkansas Review Board, which made recommendations to the NRCS State Conservationist.
What is meant by "practical demonstration and adoption" in the context of this grant?
It means projects should focus on implementing or demonstrating conservation innovations in real agricultural settings, with the explicit intent of increasing adoption and scaling up emerging strategies, rather than stopping at proof-of-concept or purely experimental work.
How did the opportunity describe the desired end use of project results?
The opportunity highlighted two main pathways: results that could be transferred into USDA NRCS technical manuals and guides, or results that could be taken up by the private sector so that the methods become part of standard conservation practice.
What was the overall purpose of the Arkansas CIG 2017 opportunity?
The purpose was to encourage practical demonstration and adoption of conservation innovations that can be replicated and integrated into broader NRCS guidance or private-sector practice, while improving environmental outcomes and supporting agricultural production.
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| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| 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 |
| South Carolina Conservation Innovation Grants Apply for USDA NRCS SC CIG 17 01 Funding Number: USDA NRCS SC CIG 17 01 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service Category: Agriculture, Environment, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $75,000 |
| Colorado Conservation Innovation Grants - Fiscal Year 2017 Apply for USDA NRCS CO CIG 17 01 Funding Number: USDA NRCS CO CIG 17 01 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Utah State Office Category: Agriculture, Environment, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $75,000 |
| Pennsylvania Cheseapeake Bay Conservation Innovation Grants Apply for USDA NRCS PABAY CIG 17 01 Funding Number: USDA NRCS PABAY CIG 17 01 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service Category: Agriculture, Environment, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| California Conservation Innovation Grants Apply for USDA NRCS CA CIG 17 01 Funding Number: USDA NRCS CA CIG 17 01 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service Category: Agriculture, Environment, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $75,000 |
| Mississippi Conservation Technical Assistance (CTA) Apply for USDA NRCS MS CTA 17 01 Funding Number: USDA NRCS MS CTA 17 01 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service Category: Agriculture, Environment, Natural Resources Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Vermont Conservation Innovation Grant Apply for USDA NRCS VT CIG 17 01 Funding Number: USDA NRCS VT CIG 17 01 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service Category: Agriculture, Environment, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $75,000 |
| Mississippi ACEP-WRP-EWP Apply for USDA NRCS MS ACEP 17 01 Funding Number: USDA NRCS MS ACEP 17 01 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service Category: Agriculture, Environment, Natural Resources Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Oregon Conservation Innovation Grants - Forest Stand Resiliency Apply for USDA NRCS OR CIG 17 02 Funding Number: USDA NRCS OR CIG 17 02 Agency: Department of Agriculture, NRCS Oregon Category: Agriculture, Environment, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $75,000 |
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