New Mexico State Conservation Innovation Grants | USDA NRCS NM CIG 21 NOFO0001061

Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NRCS NM CIG 21 NOFO0001061

The New Mexico State Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) opportunity is a competitive grant program run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), with funding authority connected to the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) under Assistance Listing (CFDA) 10.912. The main purpose of this funding is to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches, tools, and technologies. In practical terms, NRCS is looking for projects that test, demonstrate, and help move new conservation ideas into real-world use, specifically through projects that will be carried out in the state of New Mexico.

For federal fiscal year 2021, NRCS set aside up to $50,000 total for the New Mexico CIG competition. Individual awards can range from an estimated minimum (floor) of $5,000 to a maximum (ceiling) of $50,000 in federal share per agreement, meaning the smallest award NRCS expects to make is about $5,000 and the largest single award cannot exceed $50,000. The notice also indicates an expectation of about two awards, which suggests this is a small, highly competitive funding round. Projects can run from one to three years, giving applicants flexibility to propose either short pilots or longer demonstrations and adoption efforts, as long as the work is completed within that timeframe.

Eligibility is broad and includes essentially all non-federal entities and individuals, with the key exclusion being federal agencies. Eligible applicant types 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 (including both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3) nonprofits); for-profit organizations (including small businesses and other for-profits); and individuals. This wide eligibility is meant to encourage participation from many sectors that may be positioned to test or scale conservation innovations, from universities and conservation nonprofits to producers, consultants, and private companies.

Applications had to be submitted through Grants.gov, with the deadline set for 11:59 pm Eastern Time on April 20, 2021. The notice emphasizes that Grants.gov technical support is handled by the Grants.gov Applicant Support team (not NRCS staff), which matters because account setup and submission issues are common barriers for applicants who wait until the last minute. For programmatic questions about the funding notice itself, applicants could submit questions up to March 26, 2021, and NRCS planned to post responses on Grants.gov about two weeks before the application deadline, providing a way for all potential applicants to see consistent guidance.

NRCS anticipated announcing selections by May 21, 2021, with awards expected to be executed by July 31, 2021. The official notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) identification for this specific competition is USDA-NRCS-NM-CIG-21-NOFO0001061, and it is categorized as a discretionary grant opportunity in the agriculture, environment, and natural resources space. Overall, this grant is best understood as a small, state-focused innovation fund designed to help partners in New Mexico pilot or demonstrate new conservation solutions with clear potential for adoption and broader impact beyond a single site or participant.

• The Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service in the agriculture, environment, natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "New Mexico State Conservation Innovation Grants" 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 22, 2021.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 20, 2021. (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 $50,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 2 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.

Apply for USDA NRCS NM CIG 21 NOFO0001061

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