Minnesota (MN) Fiscal Year (FY) 22 Grant Agreement Notice of Funding Opportunity for For-Profit and Non-Profit Organizations | USDA NRCS MN MULTI 22 NOFO0001161

Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NRCS MN MULTI 22 NOFO0001161

The Minnesota (MN) Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 Grant Agreement Notice of Funding Opportunity is a competitive USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) solicitation meant to fund projects that strengthen conservation outcomes in Minnesota by leveraging NRCS resources and building state and community conservation leadership. The notice was issued with the caveat that it is released prior to final FY 2022 appropriation and apportionment, meaning the final funding level and availability could shift depending on federal budgeting actions such as continuing resolutions or an appropriations act. Overall, NRCS is looking for collaborative, on-the-ground efforts that address local natural resource issues, demonstrate practical conservation approaches, and produce usable outreach or technical products that help conservation practices spread.

NRCS identifies six priority initiative areas that applicants can propose under. The first, Drainage Water Management Systems Demonstrations, focuses on showing how drainage water management works on active farms while documenting impacts to soil health, evaluating flooding and climate resilience in drainage systems, producing both promotional and technical materials, and hosting field days or similar events. The second, Grazing and Livestock Assistance, is designed to expand the use of livestock as a conservation management tool by providing specialist support to producers and NRCS customers, delivering trainings and workshops (including tours and demonstration projects), facilitating a "Working Effectively with Livestock Producers" course for NRCS staff and partners, and evaluating both environmental and economic outcomes tied to soil health and wildlife habitat; it also emphasizes creating practical outreach and technical content around grazing, livestock, and grasslands. The third initiative, Prescribed Burning, aims to increase public understanding of prescribed fire benefits, develop burn plans that can be implemented through NRCS programs, provide Job Approval Authority-related training, identify barriers to growing prescribed fire service capacity, build networks such as burn associations, and create supporting technical and promotional materials.

The remaining initiatives broaden the scope to market linkages and private-sector delivery. Field to Market Expansion is intended to better connect consumers with producers to encourage adoption of conservation systems, using demonstration projects, field tours, symposia, and social media to improve public and end-user understanding of agricultural production and producer stewardship. It also calls for identifying food deserts and supporting sustainable production opportunities, including expanding farmers markets and locally grown efforts. Enable a Free Market-Based Program to Incentivize Adoption of Ecosystem Services supports piloting a market-based payment and/or exchange approach to promote long-term stewardship, hosting a symposium to explore workable models, and producing outcomes-based measurements and metrics to quantify ecosystem services. Connecting Agriculture Retailers with Conservation Delivery targets wider conservation adoption by building a bridge between NRCS and private agricultural retailers or cooperatives: integrating conservation support into retailer networks, equipping retailers to understand NRCS programs and collaborate with NRCS in implementation, strengthening NRCS leadership and familiarity with retailer services, and improving local NRCS office understanding of agronomic principles and the economic realities that influence agronomic planning for customers.

Funding is anticipated at a total of $2,000,000 for FY 2022, with individual awards expected to range from $100,000 (minimum) to $750,000 (maximum). NRCS projected about four awards. Projects are expected to run for two to three years, and awards are made as grant agreements under a discretionary funding opportunity in the Agriculture, Environment, and Natural Resources domain (CFDA 10.902). Eligibility is broad and includes state, county, and local governments (including special districts); public and private institutions of higher education; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (excluding IHE within those categories as listed); individuals; for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses.

Applications had to be submitted through Grants.gov, and proposals were to be screened first for completeness and compliance; incomplete or noncompliant submissions would be removed from consideration. The deadline listed was April 21, 2022 at 11:59 pm Eastern Time. Applicants needing technical support with Grants.gov were directed to Grants.gov Applicant Support, and NRCS staff noted they could not assist with Grants.gov account issues. Questions about the content of the notice were limited to clarifications tied to the NFO itself (such as dates or discrepancies), not applicant eligibility interpretations or feedback on proposal ideas. NRCS also scheduled an informational Microsoft Teams conference call for March 24, 2022 (9:00 am to 11:00 am CST) to introduce and encourage participation in the Minnesota initiatives and answer permissible questions, with printable program materials to follow. NRCS estimated selections by May 6, 2022 and award execution by July 1, 2022, while noting these dates were subject to change.

• The Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service in the agriculture, environment, natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Minnesota (MN) Fiscal Year (FY) 22 Grant Agreement Notice of Funding Opportunity for For-Profit and Non-Profit Organizations" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.902.
• This funding opportunity was created on Mar 07, 2022.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 21, 2022 Applications must be received by 1159 pm Eastern Time.. (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 $750,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 4 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, 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.

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