Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NRCS CA CIG 21 NOFO0001052
The FY21 Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) Program for California is a competitive federal grant opportunity run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), with funding provided through the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC). The program is designed to encourage the development, demonstration, and wider adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies. In practice, this means NRCS is looking for projects that test new ideas or improve existing conservation methods in ways that can be replicated and scaled across agricultural and natural resource settings in California. The opportunity is tied to the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) under Assistance Listings (formerly CFDA) number 10.912.
For FY 2021, NRCS set aside up to $1,000,000 total for the California state CIG competition. Individual awards are capped at $150,000, with projects allowed to run from one to three years. NRCS anticipated making about seven awards, reflecting a relatively competitive process where proposals need to clearly show innovation, practical conservation outcomes, and potential for broader impact beyond a single site or operation.
Eligibility is broad: all non-federal entities and individuals may apply, with the key restriction being that federal agencies are not eligible applicants. Applications must be for projects carried out within the state of California. Because submission is handled through Grants.gov, applicants need to be prepared for the administrative steps involved in registering and submitting through that platform, especially if they are first-time users.
The application deadline was April 23, 2021, by 11:59 pm Pacific Standard Time, and proposals had to be submitted electronically via Grants.gov. Applicants experiencing technical problems were directed to Grants.gov Applicant Support (1-800-518-4726 or support@grants.gov), and NRCS staff noted they cannot assist with Grants.gov account issues. Questions about the funding notice itself could be submitted up to March 12, 2021, with NRCS planning to post consolidated responses on Grants.gov roughly two weeks before the deadline to help applicants prepare stronger submissions. NRCS also scheduled an applicant webinar for March 4, 2021, with participation details posted through the NRCS CIG notice webpage, and encouraged applicants to review the California State CIG website for additional state-specific context.
Finally, NRCS indicated an expected timeline for decisions and awards: selections were anticipated by May 21, 2021, with awards expected to be executed by June 18, 2021. The main point of the opportunity is to fund California-based projects that push conservation practice forward in a measurable, transferable way, using relatively modest grants aimed at piloting and proving innovations that can later be adopted more broadly.Apply for USDA NRCS CA CIG 21 NOFO0001052
- The Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service in the agriculture, environment, natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY21 Conservation Innovative Grants Program_California" 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 Feb 18, 2021.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 23, 2021 Applications must be received by 1159 PM Eastern Time on the closing date.. (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 $150,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 7 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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FY21 California Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) Program - FAQs
What is the FY21 Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) Program for California?
The FY21 California Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) Program is a competitive federal grant opportunity administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). It supports projects in California that develop, demonstrate, and encourage broader adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies.
Who runs the program and where does the funding come from?
The program is run by USDA NRCS. Funding for this opportunity is provided through the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC).
What is the main goal of this grant opportunity?
The main goal is to fund projects that test new ideas or improve existing conservation methods in ways that produce practical conservation outcomes and can be replicated and scaled across agricultural and natural resource settings in California.
What kinds of projects is NRCS looking for?
NRCS is looking for projects that develop or demonstrate innovative conservation approaches or technologies. Strong projects are expected to show clear innovation, measurable conservation outcomes in practice, and a realistic pathway for wider adoption beyond a single location or operation.
Does this opportunity relate to any other NRCS programs?
Yes. This CIG opportunity is tied to the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and is listed under Assistance Listings (formerly CFDA) number 10.912.
How much funding was available in California for FY 2021?
For FY 2021, NRCS set aside up to $1,000,000 total for the California state CIG competition.
What is the maximum award amount for an individual project?
Individual awards were capped at $150,000.
How long can a project last?
Projects were allowed to run from one to three years.
How competitive is the program?
NRCS anticipated making about seven awards statewide. With up to $1,000,000 total available and a $150,000 cap per award, the program was expected to be competitive and to favor proposals with strong innovation and broader applicability.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad. All non-federal entities and individuals may apply. The key restriction is that federal agencies are not eligible applicants.
Are federal agencies allowed to apply?
No. Federal agencies are not eligible applicants for this opportunity.
Do projects have to take place in California?
Yes. Applications must be for projects carried out within the state of California.
How were applications submitted?
Applications had to be submitted electronically via Grants.gov.
What was the application deadline for FY21?
The application deadline was April 23, 2021, by 11:59 pm Pacific Standard Time (PST).
What should first-time applicants know about applying through Grants.gov?
Because submission is handled through Grants.gov, applicants needed to be prepared for the administrative steps involved in registering and submitting through that platform, particularly if they were first-time users.
Who should applicants contact for Grants.gov technical problems?
Applicants experiencing technical problems were directed to Grants.gov Applicant Support at 1-800-518-4726 or support@grants.gov.
Can NRCS help troubleshoot Grants.gov account or submission issues?
No. NRCS staff noted they cannot assist with Grants.gov account issues.
How could applicants ask questions about the funding notice itself?
Questions about the funding notice could be submitted up to March 12, 2021.
Where were answers to funding notice questions posted?
NRCS planned to post consolidated responses on Grants.gov roughly two weeks before the application deadline.
Was there an applicant webinar?
Yes. NRCS scheduled an applicant webinar for March 4, 2021. Participation details were posted through the NRCS CIG notice webpage.
Where could applicants find additional California-specific context?
NRCS encouraged applicants to review the California State CIG website for additional state-specific context.
When were selections expected to be announced?
Selections were anticipated by May 21, 2021.
When were awards expected to be executed?
Awards were expected to be executed by June 18, 2021.
What is NRCS hoping to achieve with these relatively modest grants?
NRCS described the grants as aimed at piloting and proving innovations that can later be adopted more broadly. The emphasis is on practical demonstrations and measurable, transferable results that can move conservation practice forward across California.
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| Caribbean Partners for Conservation (CPC) Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 Announcement for Program Funding – Caribbean Area Apply for USDA NRCS PR CPC 21 NOFO0001067 Funding Number: USDA NRCS PR CPC 21 NOFO0001067 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service Category: Agriculture, Environment, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| NRCS-IL Conservation Technical Assitance-Surveying Aides Apply for USDA NRCS IL CTA 21 001 NOFO0001077 Funding Number: USDA NRCS IL CTA 21 001 NOFO0001077 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service Category: Agriculture, Environment, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $300,000 |
| 2021 LA State CIG Apply for USDA NRCS LA CIG 21 001 NOFO0001064 Funding Number: USDA NRCS LA CIG 21 001 NOFO0001064 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service Category: Agriculture, Environment, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $150,000 |
| FY21 NRCS-IL Monarch Butterfly Opportunity Apply for USDA NRCS IL CTA 21 002 NOFO0001081 Funding Number: USDA NRCS IL CTA 21 002 NOFO0001081 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service Category: Agriculture, Environment, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $178,000 |
| Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) for Federal fiscal year (FY) 2021 – Idaho Apply for USDA NRCS ID CIG 21 NOFO0001051 Funding Number: USDA NRCS ID CIG 21 NOFO0001051 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service Category: Agriculture, Environment, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $75,000 |
| Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) for Federal fiscal year (FY) 2021 – South Carolina Apply for USDA NRCS SC CIG 21 NOFO0001084 Funding Number: USDA NRCS SC CIG 21 NOFO0001084 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service Category: Agriculture, Environment, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $115,000 |
| Announcement for Program Funding for NRCS’ Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) for Federal fiscal year (FY) 2021 – Massachusetts Apply for USDA NRCS MA CIG NOFO0001057 Funding Number: USDA NRCS MA CIG NOFO0001057 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service Category: Agriculture, Environment, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Announcement for Program Funding for NRCS’ Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) for Federal fiscal year (FY) 2021 – Wisconsin Apply for USDA NRCS WI CIG 21 NOFO0001073 Funding Number: USDA NRCS WI CIG 21 NOFO0001073 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service Category: Agriculture, Environment, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| New Mexico Conservation Technical Assistance for Outreach and Education Apply for USDA NRCS NM CTA 21 NOFO0001078 Funding Number: USDA NRCS NM CTA 21 NOFO0001078 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service Category: Agriculture, Environment, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $20,000 |
| Oregon CIG_FY 2021 Apply for USDA NRCS OR CIG 21 NOFO0001083 Funding Number: USDA NRCS OR CIG 21 NOFO0001083 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service Category: Agriculture, Environment, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) for Federal fiscal year (FY) 2021 – Rhode Island Apply for USDA NRCS RI CIG 21 NOFO0001075 Funding Number: USDA NRCS RI CIG 21 NOFO0001075 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service Category: Agriculture, Environment, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $150,000 |
| Louisiana Conservation Delivery Technical Assistance, FY21 Apply for USDA NRCS LA MULTI 21 NOFO0001095 Funding Number: USDA NRCS LA MULTI 21 NOFO0001095 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service Category: Agriculture, Environment, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $3,000,000 |
| Conservation Outreach, FY 2021 Apply for USDA NRCS LA MULTI 21 NOFO0001079 Funding Number: USDA NRCS LA MULTI 21 NOFO0001079 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service Category: Agriculture, Environment, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $2,000,000 |
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