The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), an agency under the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), is announcing potential availability of Conservation Collaboration Grants for the purpose of leveraging NRCS resources, addressing local natural resource issues, encouraging collaboration

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and developing state- and community-level conservation leadership.

NRCS anticipates that the amount available for support of this program in Fiscal Year 2017 will be up to $2,000,00 0. Proposals will be accepted from eligible entities based in or with substantial operations in Iowa.

Proposals are requested from eligible governmental or non-governmental organizations, and institutions of higher learning for competitive consideration of grant awards for projects between one and three years in duration.

The purpose of Conservation Collaboration Grants will be to leverage NRCS and partner resources to:
a.

Build soil health on cropland.

b.

Improve environmental and economic performance of grasslands.

c.

Provide habitat for local wildlife species of concern as identified in the Iowa Wildlife Action Plan.

d.

Reduce the net emissions of greenhouse gasses associated with agriculture.

e.

Support the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy.

Emphasis will be placed on projects that:
a.

Build technical capacity of NRCS and partner field conservation employees.

b.

Build the capacity of local watershed groups to develop and implement effective projects.

c.

Leverage non-Federal and non-government resources to achieve positive natural resources conservation outcomes.

Proposals will be screened for completeness and compliance with the provisions of this notice.

Incomplete and/or noncompliant proposals will be eliminated from competition, and notification of elimination will be sent to the applicant.

Complete proposals received by applicable deadlines will be evaluated based on criteria the stated in this announcement.

Evaluated proposals will be forwarded to the NRCS State Conservationist who will make the final selections.