USDA-NRCS-WI-CIG-21-NOFO0001073: Announcement for Program Funding for NRCS’ Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) for Federal fiscal year (FY) 2021 – Wisconsin
Closed
This grant is closed. Who won this program's grants before is below, and similar open grants are at the end of the page. It is in our archive of Natural Resources Conservation Service notices from 2021.
Natural Resources Conservation Service offered grants of up to $500,000 (at least $50,000) to nonprofits, colleges and universities, state and local governments, tribes, small businesses, businesses and individuals. It expected to make about 10 awards. Applications closed on May 7, 2021.
From the official notice on Grants.gov, last changed March 8, 2021. Checked November 7, 2026.
- Award ceiling$500,000
- Award floor$50,000
- Expected awards10
- Cost sharingRequired
- Funding typeGrant
Key dates
| Posted | March 8, 2021 |
|---|---|
| Deadline | May 7, 2021 |
| Archived by Grants.gov | June 6, 2021 |
Who can apply
This opportunity was open to nonprofits, colleges and universities, state and local governments, tribes, small businesses, businesses and individuals.
All 15 applicant types the notice lists
- 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
Is this a realistic fit?
- Past Environmental Quality Incentives Program awards averaged $577,615; this notice allows up to $500,000 per award.
- Most of the program's money (53% over five years) went to nonprofits.
- The notice requires cost sharing or matching funds, so you must contribute part of the project cost.
What the grant funds
The purpose of Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) program is to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies in conjunction with agricultural production. CIG projects are expected to lead to the transfer of conservation technologies, management systems, and innovative approaches (such as market-based systems) to agricultural producers, into government technical manuals and guides, or to the private sector. CIG generally funds pilot projects, field demonstrations, and on-farm conservation research. On-farm conservation research is defined as an investigation conducted to answer a specific applied conservation question using a statistically valid design while employing farm-scale equipment on farms, ranches or private forest lands. NRCS is announcing the availability of CIG funding to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies for projects carried out in the state of Wisconsin. A total of up to $500,000 is available for the Wisconsin CIG competition in FY 2021. All non-federal entities (NFE) and individuals are invited to apply, with the sole exception of federal agencies. Projects may be between one and three years in duration. The maximum award amount for a single award in FY 2021 is $500,000. For FY 2021, NRCS shall only accept proposals that address one or more of the State priority categories listed below, and the project is required to be located in Wisconsin. Wisconsin (WI) 2021 State CIG Priorities fall in no particular order into these 3 broad priority categories: 1) Conservation Planning, 2) Manure Management Systems, and 3) Soil Health Management Systems. Proposals will compete against other proposals in the same category. For example, Soil Health Management System project proposals will compete against other Soil Health Management System proposals and Manure Management System proposals will compete against Manure Management System proposals. See Section E.,2) for further information. $500,000 is available in sum for the entire WI 2021 State CIG program. The 3 categories are designed to help meet the goals of streamlining conservation planning, increasing agricultural innovation, improving weather resiliency, and addressing Wisconsin priority resource concerns: Concentrated Erosion, Degraded Plant Condition, Field Sediment, Nutrient and Pathogen Loss, Soil Quality Limitations, and Wind and Water Erosion.
Who has won Environmental Quality Incentives Program grants before
From fiscal 2021 to 2025, Environmental Quality Incentives Program (10.912) awarded $496 million across 859 grant awards, an average of $577,615 per award.
| Recipient | State | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Fish and Wildlife Foundation | District of Columbia | 4 | $60.7 million |
| National Experienced Workforce Solutions, Inc | Virginia | 36 | $47.8 million |
| The American Farmland Trust | District of Columbia | 13 | $14.0 million |
| Texas A&m Agrilife Research | Texas | 10 | $12.0 million |
| University of Hawaii | Hawaii | 10 | $8.1 million |
Applying now
This notice no longer takes applications. Agencies often post the same opportunity again under a new number, so check the program's notices on Grants.gov and the similar open grants below.
The notice on Grants.gov keeps its full text and attachments, which is useful for planning a resubmission.
Questions people ask
Is USDA-NRCS-WI-CIG-21-NOFO0001073 still open?
No. It closed on May 7, 2021.
Who can apply for Announcement for Program Funding for NRCS’ Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) for Federal fiscal year (FY) 2021 – Wisconsin?
Natural Resources Conservation Service accepted applications from nonprofits, colleges and universities, state and local governments, tribes, small businesses, businesses and individuals.
What is the deadline for Announcement for Program Funding for NRCS’ Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) for Federal fiscal year (FY) 2021 – Wisconsin?
Closed May 7, 2021. Applications are no longer accepted; the program's newer notices are on this page when there are any.
How much funding is available?
Awards of up to $500,000 each.
Who has won Environmental Quality Incentives Program grants before?
The largest recipients over five fiscal years were National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, National Experienced Workforce Solutions, Inc, The American Farmland Trust. The program made 859 awards worth $496 million in that time.
Similar open grants
- Ethical, Legal and Social Implications (ELSI) Small Research Grant (R03 Clinical Trial Optional)
- Ethical, Legal and Social Implications (ELSI) Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant (R21 Clinical Trial Optional)
- Ethical, Legal and Social Implications (ELSI) Research (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)
- Easement Restoration and Stewardship
- Native American Affairs: Fiscal Year 2025 Colorado River Basin Tribal Drought Resiliency Program
- F26AS00030 Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund: Recovery Land Acquisition Grant Program