Oregon CIG_FY 2021 | USDA NRCS OR CIG 21 NOFO0001083

Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NRCS OR CIG 21 NOFO0001083

The Oregon CIG_FY 2021 opportunity is a competitive grant program from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) that is meant to spark new, practical conservation ideas and help move promising conservation technologies and approaches into real-world use. This particular competition is limited to projects that will be carried out in Oregon, and it is focused on innovation in agriculture, environmental stewardship, and natural resource conservation. The program is offered as a discretionary grant under CFDA 10.912, and it is designed to support projects that test, demonstrate, and encourage adoption of conservation solutions rather than routine or standard practice.

For FY 2021 in Oregon, NRCS set aside up to $150,000 total for awards under this notice, and the agency expected to make about two awards. Individual projects can last from one to three years, giving applicants room to design either shorter demonstrations or multi-season efforts that need more time to produce results and meaningful adoption. The federal funding range is clearly defined: the minimum (funding floor) is $5,000 and the maximum (funding ceiling) is $100,000 per award, with $100,000 also stated as the maximum award amount for any single project in this funding cycle. These floor and ceiling figures refer to the total federal share for the full agreement, not to a single year or budget period.

Eligibility is broad and intentionally inclusive, covering essentially all non-federal applicants and individuals, with federal agencies being the only entities explicitly excluded. Eligible applicant types include state, county, and city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled universities; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations; nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status; for-profit organizations (including those other than small businesses); small businesses; and individuals. In other words, NRCS is inviting proposals from public institutions, academic partners, nonprofits, private-sector innovators, and individual applicants, as long as the work is proposed for Oregon and fits the purpose of advancing innovative conservation.

The application process runs through Grants.gov only, and the deadline for submission was 11:59 pm Eastern Time on May 7, 2021. Applicants dealing with technical submission problems were directed to Grants.gov Applicant Support (1-800-518-4726 or support@grants.gov), and NRCS staff noted they cannot assist with setting up or troubleshooting Grants.gov accounts, so applicants needed to plan ahead to avoid last-minute access issues. The notice also established a formal question period: questions about the funding opportunity could be submitted until April 9, 2021, and NRCS planned to post responses on Grants.gov roughly two weeks before the application deadline so all applicants could benefit from the same clarifications.

NRCS shared an anticipated timeline for award decisions and startup. Selections were expected by June 4, 2021, with award execution targeted by August 31, 2021. The opportunity was created on March 8, 2021, and published under Funding Opportunity Number USDA NRCS OR CIG 21 NOFO0001083, titled "Oregon CIG_FY 2021." Overall, this funding is aimed at helping Oregon-based conservation innovation move from concept or pilot stage toward on-the-ground testing, proof of value, and broader uptake by producers and land managers, within a modest, targeted grant size and a relatively short project window of up to three years.

• The Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service in the agriculture, environment, natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Oregon CIG_FY 2021" 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 Mar 08, 2021.
• Applicants must submit their applications by May 07, 2021. (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 $100,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 2 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have 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.

Apply for USDA NRCS OR CIG 21 NOFO0001083

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