2021 LA State CIG | USDA NRCS LA CIG 21 001 NOFO0001064

Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NRCS LA CIG 21 001 NOFO0001064

The 2021 Louisiana State Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) opportunity is a competitive grant program run by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to encourage new and practical conservation ideas. The focus is on stimulating the development, testing, and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies that can be applied in Louisiana. Projects supported under this notice are intended to move beyond standard practice by demonstrating or piloting methods that improve conservation outcomes in areas tied to agriculture, the environment, and natural resources.

For fiscal year 2021, NRCS set aside up to $300,000 total for the Louisiana state competition, with an expected number of about five awards. Individual awards can be as large as $150,000, meaning funding is structured to support several mid-sized projects rather than one large effort. Proposed projects may run for one to three years, giving applicants flexibility to design short demonstrations or multi-season field work that can show results over time.

Eligibility is broad and is designed to include most non-federal applicants. All non-federal entities and individuals may apply, with federal agencies being the only explicit exclusion. The eligible applicant categories listed include state, county, and local governments; special districts; independent school districts; public and private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations; public housing and Indian housing authorities; nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status; for-profit organizations (including small businesses); and individuals. In practical terms, this means universities, conservation groups, producer organizations, companies, and individual innovators in Louisiana can all potentially compete, as long as the proposed work is carried out in the state.

Applications had to be submitted electronically through Grants.gov, and the deadline specified was 11:59 pm Eastern Time on May 3, 2021 (with the listing also showing an original closing date of May 4, 2021 while emphasizing the 11:59 pm Eastern time cutoff). New Grants.gov users were directed to follow the registration and submission steps described in the notice (referenced as Section D.1), since those steps can take time and are required before an application can be officially submitted. Technical support for submission issues was routed to Grants.gov Applicant Support (1-800-518-4726 or support@grants.gov), and the notice makes clear that NRCS awarding staff cannot help troubleshoot Grants.gov accounts.

The opportunity also included a structured Q and A period for applicant questions about the funding notice itself. Questions about the notice could be submitted up to March 26, 2021, and NRCS planned to post responses on Grants.gov about two weeks before the application deadline. Applicants were also pointed to the Louisiana NRCS CIG program webpage for additional program context and state-specific information: https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/la/programs/financial/cig/

For topic-specific guidance, NRCS provided direct state contacts depending on the project focus. Cropland-related proposals could be discussed with Dr. Craig Smith, Louisiana State Conservation Agronomist (318-473-7805, craig.smith2@usda.gov). Grazing land-related proposals could be directed to Chris Ebel, Louisiana State Rangeland Management Specialist (318-473-7686, chris.ebel@usda.gov). These contacts were meant to help applicants interpret priorities and fit, not to resolve Grants.gov technical issues.

Finally, NRCS laid out a tentative timeline for award decisions and grant execution. Selections were anticipated by June 25, 2021, with awards expected to be executed by September 3, 2021. The official listing identifies the opportunity as a discretionary grant in the agriculture, environment, and natural resources space under CFDA 10.912, and it appears under the funding opportunity title "2021 LA State CIG" with funding opportunity number USDA NRCS LA CIG 21 001 (NOFO0001064).

• The Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service in the agriculture, environment, natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "2021 LA State CIG" 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 04, 2021.
• Applicants must submit their applications by May 04, 2021 Applications must be received by 1159 pm Eastern Time.. (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 5 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), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, 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, Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.

Apply for USDA NRCS LA CIG 21 001 NOFO0001064

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