03/21/08 CIG deadline

The Natural Resources Conservation Service in Idaho has 250 thousand dollars available this year for Conservation Innovation Grants for innovative technologies that address natural resource concerns. Assistant State Conservationist Bob Bartholomew says there is a 75 thousand dollar grant limit in Idaho for CIG funds that will target on-the-ground conservation activities, including pilot projects and field demonstrations. He says up to a dozen projects could get funding. BARTHOLOMEW "These would be things like maybe demonstrating new GPS technologies for fuel savings and for savings for putting on less fertilizers and pesticides. In the past we've had applications that were looking at new technologies for early identification of noxious weeds." CIG does not fund research projects. Applicants may be state or local government agencies, tribes, non-governmental organizations or individuals. CIG requires a 50 percent non-federal match for the total project cost. BARTHOLOMEW "Of which up to half of your portion can be in kind work, labor, equipment that you already owned, donated." The application deadline for Conservation Innovation Grants is March 28th. Today's Idaho Ag News Bill Scott