Special to The Post-Searchlight

James E. Tillman Sr., State Conservationist for the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Georgia, recently announced that the NRCS is requesting applications for Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies. Applications are due April 12, 2012.

For fiscal year 2012, up to $300,000 is available for the Georgia CIG competition. Grants will not exceed $75,000 from NRCS. Funds will be awarded through a statewide competitive grants process. Applications are requested from eligible government or non-government organizations, or individuals for competitive consideration of grant awards for projects between one and three years in duration.

Applications may be submitted electronically at the Grants.gov Web site or hard copy which must be received in the Georgia NRCS State Office by 4:30 p.m. on April 12. The address for the U.S. Postal Service, hand-delivered applications, or applications submitted using express mail or overnight courier service is: “Dale Bogardus, State CIG Technical Contact, NRCS, 355 E. Hancock Ave., Mail Stop 200, Athens, GA 30601.”

Funding categories include the following; Energy, Nutrient Management, and Specialty Crops.  A description of each of these funding categories can be found at the Georgia NRCS web site, www.ga.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/cig.html.

For further questions, contact Bogardus at dale.bogardus@ga.usda.gov