NEWS

United States Department of Agriculture
Natural Resources Conservation Service
9173 W. Barnes Dr., Suite C
Boise, Idaho 83709
 
For More Information:
Bob Bartholomew, 208/378-5703
Dastina Johnson, 208/685-6978

Money Available for Innovative Conservation Projects in Idaho
Conservation Innovation Grants Deadline: May 1, 2007

BOISE, Idaho, February 13, 2007 - The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Idaho has $450,000 available in 2007 for Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG).  CIG provides money for the development or demonstration of innovative technologies that addresses critical natural resource concerns on a local, regional or national scale.

“Conservation Innovation Grants afford applicants the opportunity to discover valuable new solutions to address conservation and resource management in Idaho,” says Bob Bartholomew, NRCS assistant state conservationist for programs. “The projects we fund will target innovative on-the-ground conservation, including pilot projects and field demonstrations.”

Applicants may be state or local government agencies, Tribes, non-governmental organizations or individuals.  NRCS must receive all proposals from applicants on or before May 1, 2007. 

Proposals should describe the use of innovative technologies or approaches to address water, soil or atmospheric resources.  Bartholomew says NRCS in Idaho will give a high priority to proposals that address that development of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) technologies and on-farm energy efficiency using Global Positioning Systems.   

CIG does not fund research projects.   All CIG proposals must be applied in Idaho and show potential benefits to Idaho’s agricultural community.  Applicants should identify how large of a geographic area the project would benefit.  

Each grant awarded may not exceed $75,000 and requires a 50 percent non-federal match for the total project cost.  Half of the match may be in-kind services while the remaining must be in cash.  Grantees may use the grant funds to encourage agricultural producers to try new technologies by providing incentive payments or cost share.

To view the Announcement of Program Funding or for general information, visit http://www.id.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/cig.  Application information and instructions are available on the NRCS Idaho website at http://www.id.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/cig/index.html.  NRCS is requesting that applicants submit a hard copy of the proposal along with a CD-ROM.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

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