- Author: Kathleen P Nolan
Dear Colleagues,
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is announcing the potential availability of grants and agreements for the purpose of addressing local natural resource issues, encouraging collaboration, and developing state- and community-level conservation leadership for historically underserved agricultural producers. The agency expects to make approximately 35 awards.
A total of up to $35 million is available for NRCS Conservation Collaboration Grants that:
1. Improve soil health.
2. Improve water quality.
3. Provide habitat for local wildlife species of concern.
4. Improve the environmental and economic performance of working agricultural lands.
5. Assist communities and groups to build and strengthen local food projects that provide healthy food and economic opportunities.
Emphasis will be placed on projects that:
1. Build technical capacity to implement Farm Bill Conservation Programs.
2. Build technical capacity of NRCS and partner field conservation employees.
3. Build the capacity of local partners to develop and implement effective projects.
4. Leverage non-Federal and non-government resources to achieve positive natural resources conservation outcomes.
The program will support two project categories:
Category I - Outreach to assist Historically Underserved Groups. Eligible projects will increase the delivery of conservation assistance to historically underserved farmers and ranchers through a combination of program outreach and technical assistance in managing natural resources. Outreach projects should focus on assisting historically underserved farmers and ranchers with all aspects of participating in NRCS programs including understanding the program application process. Outreach proposals must address work in multiple states. The funding floor for projects in Category I is $250,000 and the funding ceiling is $1,000,000.
Category II - Collaboration on Strategic Natural Resource Issues. Eligible projects will protect and preserve the environment to enhance the quality of life for current and future generations through the responsible management of natural resources, development of effective partnerships and promotion of environmental stewardship. Projects may include providing technical assistance to farmers and ranchers, transfer of technology, developing natural resource tools and information to address resource concerns in soil, water, air and plants, and animals. Projects that propose providing technical assistance to farmers and ranchers must address work in multiple states. The funding floor for projects in Category II is $500,000 and the funding ceiling is $2,000,000.
Projects may be between one and two years in duration.
This opportunity requires applicants to cost share 50 percent of total project costs. The funding floor and ceiling given above are the minimum and maximum agreement funding amounts for the Federal share per agreement awarded.
Applications are due by Friday, February 07, 2020 via Grants.gov. Please reference funding opportunity number, USDA-NRCS-NHQ-CCG-20-GEN0010619. The full announcement for this funding opportunity can be found at the following link: https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=322957
If you are interested in applying to this funding opportunity, please contact Vanity Campbell, UC ANR Office of Contracts and Grants at vcampbell@ucanr.edu.
Thank you.
Kathleen Nolan, Director, ANR Office of Contracts & Grants (OCG)