Alaska Statewide Conservation Innovation Grant Pre-proposals Due February 24

Palmer, January 18, 2012 - USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is seeking project pre-proposals for fiscal year 2012 Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG). Up to one hundred and sixty thousand dollars ($160,000) will be available through the Alaska Statewide CIG program to stimulate innovative approaches to conservation measures in conjunction with Alaska’s agricultural and subsistence practices. “NRCS is seeking grant applications from farmers, ranchers, tribes, individuals, and conservation partners to address Alaska’s unique natural resource challenges through innovative approaches and models of best management practices,” said Alaska State Conservationist Robert Jones.

Now in its third year, the Alaska Statewide CIG program offers competitive funding to support innovative ideas that address high-priority natural resource concerns and agricultural issues. CIG projects are to target innovative on-the-ground conservation efforts, including pilot projects and field demonstrations. Priorities for this year’s Alaska Statewide CIG program include innovative practices in energy conservation and best management practices for high tunnel growers.

A two-phase competitive process will be used. In phase one, all applicants are required to submit a one-page pre-proposal due Friday February 24; in phase two, only those applicants selected from the pre-proposal phase will be asked to submit a full application package approximately 60 days later.

There are two types of eligibility for CIG: applicant eligibility and project eligibility. For applicant eligibility, an applicant must be one of the following: a federally recognized tribe, a state or local government, a non-governmental organization, or a private individual. For project eligibility, all proposed CIG projects must involve agricultural producers who are eligible for the NRCS Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), which offers financial and technical assistance to implement conservation practices on privately owned land. The producers are not required to have a contract in EQIP, only to be eligible.

The federal contribution for a single project cannot exceed $75,000. At least 50 percent of the total cost of the project must come from non-federal matching funds. Standard provision for match is at least 50 percent as cash and up to 50 percent as in-kind contribution. Tribes, historically underserved groups, and beginning or limited resource farmers and ranchers are eligible for up to 75 percent in-kind contribution to meet the required total match. Grants are available for single or multi-year projects, not to exceed three (3) years. Proposed projects must comply with the description of innovative conservation projects established in the announcement of program funding, which can be found at http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/cig/.

Pre-proposals must be received at the NRCS Kenai Office by the close of business on Friday February 24, 2012. A template for the pre-proposal is provided at http://www.ak.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/CIG_AlaskaStatewide.html.

Pre-proposals may be submitted via email to karen.dearlove@ak.usda.gov, via www.grants.gov, by facsimile to (907) 283-9667, or by mail to: karen.dearlove@ak.usda.gov
Karen Dearlove, CIG Program Contact
USDA NRCS Kenai Office
110 Trading Bay, Suite 160
Kenai, AK 99611-9115

For more information about this program, contact Karen Dearlove at (907) 283-8732 x 114. To view the complete announcement of program funding, visit http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/cig/. Contact information for the NRCS offices in Alaska is available at http://www.ak.nrcs.usda.gov/contact/ or by calling (907) 761-7760. For more information about NRCS conservation programs, visit: http://www.nrcs.usda.gov or contact your closest NRCS office.

NRCS employees provide technical assistance based on sound science and suited to a customer's specific needs. We provide financial assistance for many conservation activities. Participation in our programs is voluntary and non-regulatory.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice), or (202) 720-6382 (TDD).


For information regarding NRCS technical service or program participation, contact an NRCS Office. The Alaska NRCS office phone numbers are: Anchorage (907) 271-2424 or (907) 283-8732, Aniak (907) 675-4578 or (907) 479-3159, Bethel (907) 543-7155 or (907) 479-3159, Craig (907) 826-5690, Delta Junction (907) 895-4241, Dillingham (907) 842-3240, Fairbanks (907) 479-3159, Glennallen (907) 822-4484, Homer (907) 235-8177, Juneau (907) 586-7220, Kenai (907)283-8732, Kodiak (907) 486-5598 or (907) 235-8177, Nome (907) 443-6096, Wasilla (907)373-6492, and the State Office (907) 761-7760. Contact information for the offices in Alaska is also available at www.ak.nrcs.usda.gov/contact/fieldoffices.html.

 

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