USDA Awards $14 Million in Conservation Innovation Grants
 

$902,500 Awarded in Michigan

Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer announced $14 million in Conservation Innovation Grants to fund 45 projects in 40 states to develop and refine cutting-edge technologies and approaches that will help farmers conserve and sustain natural resources on their operations.

"Conservation Innovation Grants foster the development of new technologies and approaches to natural resource management and conservation," Schafer said. "The grants we announce today will ultimately result in placing innovative solutions in the hands of our producers, which benefits agriculture and the environment."

Two grants were awarded in Michigan, $500,000 was awarded to the Conservation Resource Alliance in Traverse City and $402,500 was awarded to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. The Conservation Resource Alliance received the grant for its Wild Link program that encourages private landowners to provide corridors that link areas of wildlife habitat in the northwest lower peninsula. The Michigan DNR will use its grant funds to help farmers manage hay and grasslands for the benefit of grassland birds. Both organizations were required to provide matching funds in order to receive the grants.

USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service administers CIG, which is part of the Agency's Environmental Quality Incentives Program. NRCS provides technical oversight for each project. Grantees provide technical assistance required to successfully complete their projects.

CIG targets innovative, on-the-ground conservation, including pilot projects and field demonstrations. Grants go to state and local governments, tribes, non-governmental organizations and individuals.

Approved CIG projects address traditional natural resource issues such as water quantity, water quality improvement, livestock nutrient management, grazing lands and forest health, and soil resource management. The projects also address emerging natural resource issues, including agricultural air emissions, energy conservation and market-based approaches to conservation.

As part of its continuing outreach efforts to minority and underserved communities, USDA will fund eight proposals valued at $2.2 million to help tribes and limited resource producers in 22 states to address natural resource issues as well as energy efficiency and market-based approaches.
CIG funding was awarded through a nationwide competitive grants process. NRCS received applications from every state, Caribbean Area (Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands) and Pacific Islands Area (Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands).

Applicants submitted 193 CIG project proposals, requesting $70.7 million in grants. CIG funds for direct or indirect payments to individuals or entities to implement structural, vegetative or management practices are subject to EQIP's statutory payment limitation.

Additional information about CIG, including summaries of approved projects, is available at: www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/cig . A listing of all fiscal year 2008 CIG projects can be found at: www.nrcs.usda.gov/news/cig_fy2008_14_million.html . For more information about NRCS conservation programs online, visit: www.nrcs.usda.gov , or visit the nearest USDA Service Center in your area.

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