Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NRCS VT CIG 17 01
The Vermont Conservation Innovation Grant (CIG) is a competitive grant opportunity offered by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to speed up the real-world use of innovative conservation practices and technologies in Vermont. The central goal is to improve environmental protection and resource stewardship while supporting agricultural production, using federal funding as a catalyst to expand adoption of conservation solutions that have already shown promise. Rather than paying for basic or exploratory research, the program is designed to move proven or emerging conservation approaches into broader practice through application, demonstration, and scaling, so that successful methods can be integrated into NRCS guidance (such as policy, technical manuals, and field guides) or adopted widely by the private sector.
Projects funded under this opportunity are typically practical, on-the-ground efforts such as pilot projects, field demonstrations, and implementation trials that help producers and conservation partners see how a practice works under real Vermont conditions. The emphasis is on transferring usable technologies, management systems, or innovative approaches (including market-based strategies) into routine conservation use. CIG also encourages collaboration and knowledge-sharing across communities, governments, nonprofits, educational institutions, and other organizations, with the idea that new conservation tools and methods should be accessible to a broad range of users and not limited to a small set of early adopters.
While CIG generally does not fund research, it does allow a narrow exception for on-farm conservation research. In this context, on-farm conservation research means a structured investigation that answers a specific conservation question using a statistically valid design on working farms, using farm-scale equipment on farm fields. This requires an appropriate level of replication and statistical analysis so that results are credible and transferable. Even when research is supported, NRCS limits funding to projects that clearly stimulate innovative natural resource management approaches tied directly to agricultural production and that are designed to support practical adoption.
The program accepts proposals for either single-year or multi-year projects, with a maximum project period of three years. Applications must be tied directly to Vermont, and the project management team must include a Vermont-based entity, ensuring the work is grounded in state needs and has local capacity to deliver results. Eligible applicants are broad and include federally recognized Tribal governments, state and local governments, special districts, public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations (including 501(c)(3)s), individuals, and for-profit organizations (including small businesses). This wide eligibility is meant to encourage partnerships and bring in a mix of technical, producer, nonprofit, and public-sector expertise.
Proposals go through an initial screening for completeness and compliance with the notice requirements. Applications that are incomplete or do not meet the stated rules are removed from consideration and the applicant is notified. Eligible, complete proposals submitted by the deadline are then scored by a technical peer review panel using the evaluation criteria described in the program instructions. After scoring, applications are forwarded to the Vermont State Conservationist, who makes the final funding selections. NRCS notes that the State Conservationist has discretion and may choose not to fund some or all proposals, depending on merit, fit, and available resources.
Key opportunity details from the notice include: the funding instrument is a grant, the opportunity category is discretionary, and the primary activity areas are agriculture, environment, and natural resources (CFDA 10.912). For the referenced posting, the maximum award amount (ceiling) is $75,000, with an expectation of around 10 awards. The funding opportunity number listed is USDA NRCS VT CIG 17 01, with an original closing date of June 3, 2017 (and a creation date of April 13, 2017).Apply for USDA NRCS VT CIG 17 01
- The Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service in the agriculture, environment, natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Vermont Conservation Innovation Grant" 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 13, 2017.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 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 10 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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Vermont Conservation Innovation Grant (CIG) FAQs
What is the Vermont Conservation Innovation Grant (CIG)?
The Vermont Conservation Innovation Grant (CIG) is a competitive grant opportunity offered by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). It is intended to speed up the real-world use of innovative conservation practices and technologies in Vermont.
What is the main purpose of this grant program?
The central goal is to improve environmental protection and resource stewardship while supporting agricultural production. Federal funding is used as a catalyst to expand adoption of conservation solutions that have already shown promise.
Does this grant fund basic research?
No. The program is not intended to pay for basic or exploratory research. It is designed to move proven or emerging conservation approaches into broader practice through application, demonstration, and scaling.
Is any type of research allowed under CIG?
Yes, but only under a narrow exception for on-farm conservation research. This is described as a structured investigation that answers a specific conservation question using a statistically valid design on working farms.
What counts as on-farm conservation research for this program?
On-farm conservation research, as described in the notice, means a statistically valid study conducted on working farms using farm-scale equipment on farm fields. It must include an appropriate level of replication and statistical analysis so results are credible and transferable.
What kinds of projects are typically funded?
Projects are typically practical, on-the-ground efforts such as pilot projects, field demonstrations, and implementation trials. The focus is on showing how a practice works under real Vermont conditions and helping producers and conservation partners evaluate it in practice.
What types of innovations does CIG aim to move into wider use?
The program emphasizes transferring usable technologies, management systems, or innovative approaches into routine conservation use. The notice also mentions that innovations may include market-based strategies.
Why does NRCS emphasize demonstration and scaling?
The program is built to take conservation approaches that have already shown promise and help scale them so they can be integrated into NRCS guidance (such as policy, technical manuals, and field guides) or adopted widely by the private sector.
Does the project need to be located in Vermont?
Yes. Applications must be tied directly to Vermont, and the work is expected to be grounded in Vermont conditions and needs.
Is a Vermont-based organization required on the project team?
Yes. The project management team must include a Vermont-based entity, which helps ensure local capacity to deliver results.
Who is eligible to apply for the Vermont CIG?
Eligibility is broad. The notice lists federally recognized Tribal governments, state and local governments, special districts, public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations (including 501(c)(3)s), individuals, and for-profit organizations (including small businesses).
Are individuals and for-profit businesses allowed to apply?
Yes. The eligible applicant categories explicitly include individuals and for-profit organizations, including small businesses.
Are partnerships and collaboration encouraged?
Yes. The program encourages collaboration and knowledge-sharing among communities, governments, nonprofits, educational institutions, and other organizations so new conservation tools and methods are accessible to a broad range of users.
How long can a project last?
Proposals may be for single-year or multi-year projects, with a maximum project period of three years.
What is the maximum award amount?
For the referenced posting, the maximum award amount (ceiling) is $75,000.
How many awards are expected?
The notice states an expectation of around 10 awards.
What is the funding instrument for this opportunity?
The funding instrument is a grant.
What is the opportunity category?
The opportunity category is discretionary.
What are the primary activity areas for this grant?
The primary activity areas listed are agriculture, environment, and natural resources, associated with CFDA 10.912.
How are proposals reviewed and selected?
Proposals are first screened for completeness and compliance with the notice requirements. Complete, eligible applications submitted by the deadline are then scored by a technical peer review panel using the evaluation criteria described in the program instructions. After scoring, applications are forwarded to the Vermont State Conservationist for final selections.
What happens if an application is incomplete or noncompliant?
Applications that are incomplete or do not meet the stated rules are removed from consideration, and the applicant is notified.
Who makes the final funding decisions?
The Vermont State Conservationist makes the final funding selections after considering the peer review scoring.
Can NRCS decide not to fund any proposals?
Yes. NRCS notes that the State Conservationist has discretion and may choose not to fund some or all proposals depending on merit, fit, and available resources.
What is the funding opportunity number for this posting?
The funding opportunity number listed is USDA NRCS VT CIG 17 01.
What were the key dates for the referenced posting?
The notice lists a creation date of April 13, 2017 and an original closing date of June 3, 2017.
Is this program intended to help integrate successful practices into NRCS materials?
Yes. A stated objective is to help successful methods become integrated into NRCS guidance such as policy, technical manuals, and field guides, or to support broad adoption by the private sector.
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