Conservation Innovation Grants Available in Montana

April 23, 2007

For More Information:
Erik Suffridge, 406-587-6849

Bozeman--The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is making $500,000 available in Montana for Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG). Applications are due by May 29, 2007.

“These grants offer seed money to look at innovative technologies and approaches to environmental solutions on working agricultural lands,” said Chuck Gordon, NRCS acting state conservationist for Montana.

Applications for CIG should demonstrate the use of innovative technologies or approaches to address at least one of the seven natural resource concerns identified by NRCS in Montana: water resources, soil resources, atmospheric resources, grazing land and forest health resources, wildlife resources, market-based approaches, and priority resources.

Detailed information about applying for CIG, including the natural resource concerns, is available in the Fiscal Year 2007 Montana Announcement of Program Funding online at http://www.mt.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/cig/. Erik Suffridge, CIG program manager, is also available to answer questions. Contact Suffridge at 406-587-6849.

The grant program is offered to a diverse set 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. 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 tribes and community-based organizations representing tribes to receive up to 75 percent of project matching funds from in-kind contributions. Montana NRCS has set aside 10 percent of the grant funding for tribal requests. The NRCS contribution may not exceed $75,000 for a single project.

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