The U.S. Department of Agriculture this week announced that up to $5 million is available in fiscal year 2005 Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) for the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

Applicants will have 60 days to submit proposals. The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) issued a request for proposals (RFP) that contains all the details.

CIG is offered to a variety of potential applicants, including state and local agencies, nonprofit organizations, for-profit companies, tribes and individuals, to help develop, test, implement and transfer innovative environmental solutions.

Projects may be from one to three years in length and must address at least one of the CIG natural resource concerns identified annually by NRCS. Grants will fund projects targeting innovative on-the-ground conservation, including pilot projects and field demonstrations.

Selected applicants may receive grants up to 50 percent of the total project cost. Applicants must provide nonfederal matching funds for at least 50 percent of the project cost, of which up to 50 percent may be from in-kind contributions. An exception allows for beginning and limited resource farmers and ranchers, tribes and community-based organizations representing these groups to obtain up to 75 percent of project matching funds from in-kind contributions. The federal contribution may not exceed $1 million for a single project.

This funding is in addition to the $15 million announced on January 11 for the CIG nationwide competition for fiscal year 2005.

Applicants may apply for both the nationwide and the Chesapeake Bay watershed grants, but must submit separate applications. Proposals funded by one RFP will not be funded by the other.

2/4/2005