Iowa Conservation Collaboration Grants - Fiscal Year 2017 | USDA NRCS IA CCG 17 01

Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NRCS IA CCG 17 01

The Iowa Conservation Collaboration Grants (Fiscal Year 2017) opportunity was a competitive USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) funding program designed to strengthen conservation outcomes in Iowa by pairing NRCS resources with strong partner capacity and local leadership. The program’s core idea was to encourage collaboration among agencies, nonprofits, higher education institutions, and other eligible entities to tackle priority natural resource challenges at the community and state level. NRCS framed these awards as a way to both address on-the-ground environmental needs and build longer-term conservation leadership and coordination across Iowa.

Funding for the program was anticipated to total up to $2,000,000 statewide in FY 2017, with an expected eight awards. Individual projects could request up to $500,000 (the award ceiling), and project periods were intended to last between one and three years. The opportunity was listed as discretionary and supported both grants and cooperative agreements, reflecting that NRCS could either provide more traditional grant support or maintain a closer collaborative role depending on the selected project and agreement structure. Applications were due by May 31, 2017, and proposals had to come from organizations based in Iowa or with substantial operations in the state, reinforcing that projects needed a meaningful Iowa footprint and relevance to Iowa resource concerns.

Eligible applicants covered a wide range of public and nonprofit entities, including state, county, and local governments; special district governments; federally recognized tribal governments; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; and 501(c)(3) nonprofits (excluding higher education institutions under that particular nonprofit category). The funding activity categories were agriculture, environment, and natural resources, and the notice referenced multiple CFDA program numbers (10.902, 10.903, 10.912, 10.924, 10.931), signaling that the work could intersect with several NRCS conservation program areas rather than a single narrow initiative.

NRCS identified several priority purposes for projects, all tied to practical conservation outcomes and Iowa-specific strategies. Projects were expected to help build soil health on cropland, improve both environmental and economic performance of grasslands, and provide habitat for wildlife species of concern as identified in the Iowa Wildlife Action Plan. The program also sought proposals that reduced net greenhouse gas emissions associated with agriculture, which could include practices that cut emissions, increase carbon storage, or improve system efficiency. In addition, projects were expected to support the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy, aligning proposals with statewide efforts to reduce nutrient losses and improve water quality, typically through practices that reduce nitrogen and phosphorus runoff and strengthen watershed-scale approaches.

Beyond the direct environmental outcomes, NRCS placed special emphasis on capacity-building and leveraging resources. Strong proposals were expected to build technical capacity among NRCS staff and partner field conservation employees, meaning projects could include training, tools, methods, and coordinated technical approaches that improve the ability of field staff to deliver conservation assistance effectively. NRCS also prioritized projects that strengthened local watershed groups so they could design and implement more effective conservation projects, suggesting a preference for proposals that create durable local capability rather than one-off activities. Another major emphasis was leveraging non-federal and non-government resources, which indicates NRCS wanted applicants to bring additional funding, in-kind support, partnerships, or private/community investment to extend the impact of federal dollars.

The review process was structured to be compliance-driven first and competitive second. NRCS stated that proposals would be screened for completeness and compliance with the notice requirements, and incomplete or noncompliant applications would be removed from consideration with applicants notified of elimination. Proposals that passed screening and met deadlines would then be evaluated using the criteria described in the announcement. After evaluation, recommended proposals would be forwarded to the NRCS State Conservationist, who would make final selections, reflecting a final decision point at the state NRCS leadership level after technical and competitive review steps.

In practical terms, this opportunity supported collaborative, Iowa-based conservation projects that could demonstrate measurable resource benefits, align with established state conservation priorities (soil health, grasslands, wildlife habitat, greenhouse gas reductions, and nutrient reduction), and leave behind stronger local and institutional capacity to continue conservation work. It rewarded partnerships that could combine technical expertise with implementation capability and match NRCS investments with additional non-federal support to expand conservation results over a one- to three-year timeframe.

• The Department of Agriculture, Utah State Office in the agriculture, environment, natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Iowa Conservation Collaboration Grants - Fiscal Year 2017" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.902, 10.903, 10.912, 10.924, 10.931.
• This funding opportunity was created on Jan 19, 2017.
• Applicants must submit their applications by May 31, 2017. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $500,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 8 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education.

Apply for USDA NRCS IA CCG 17 01

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