AL NRCS Outreach and Education, FY2023 | USDA NRCS AL CTA NOFO0001257

Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NRCS AL CTA NOFO0001257

The AL NRCS Outreach and Education, FY2023 opportunity is a discretionary USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) funding notice focused on building partnerships that strengthen conservation outreach and education efforts across Alabama. Through this solicitation, NRCS is looking to collaborate with organizations that can help expand awareness, participation, and on-the-ground implementation of NRCS-related conservation priorities during Fiscal Year 2023. The funding is offered through cooperative agreements, which generally means NRCS expects an active partnership role during the project period rather than simply issuing a pass-through grant with minimal federal involvement. Projects proposed under this notice must be carried out in Alabama, and NRCS indicates agreements may run from 1 to 5 years, allowing either single-year efforts or multi-year outreach initiatives depending on the proposal and scope.

In terms of funding scale, NRCS expects up to $600,000 total to be available statewide for FY2023 under this notice. Individual awards have an anticipated ceiling of $60,000, and NRCS expects to make about 15 awards. The work falls under agriculture, environment, and natural resources activities, and the opportunity is associated with multiple CFDA/assistance listing numbers (10.902, 10.904, 10.912, 10.924, and 10.931), reflecting the broad set of NRCS conservation and technical assistance-related programs that outreach efforts may support.

Eligibility is intentionally broad, which is consistent with NRCS trying to reach landowners and communities through many different kinds of local and regional partners. Eligible applicants include state, county, and municipal governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled colleges and universities; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments as well as other tribal organizations; public housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education); and for-profit entities (including small businesses and other for-profits that are not small businesses). This wide eligibility list signals that NRCS is open to partnerships with extension-style educators, conservation districts, universities, community organizations, and private-sector groups that can credibly deliver outreach, training, and education tied to conservation adoption.

The application process is handled through Grants.gov, with a firm submission deadline of 11:59 pm Eastern Time on May 10, 2023. The notice emphasizes that applications will be screened for both completeness and compliance with the funding opportunity requirements, and that incomplete or noncompliant submissions can be removed from consideration. It also notes that NRCS staff cannot help applicants troubleshoot Grants.gov account or technical issues; those must go through Grants.gov Applicant Support (phone and email are provided in the notice). Questions to the awarding agency are meant to be limited to clarifying specific items in the notice itself (for example, dates, page references, or resolving inconsistencies), and not for debating eligibility interpretations or seeking feedback on a proposed project concept.

Finally, the timeline indicates NRCS anticipated making selection decisions by June 10, 2023 and executing awards by July 25, 2023, with the caveat that these dates are estimates and may shift. The Alabama State Conservationist also retains discretion not to fund some or all applications, reinforcing that awards depend on both proposal quality and programmatic priorities and available funds.

• The Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service in the agriculture, environment, natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "AL NRCS Outreach and Education, FY2023" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.902, 10.904, 10.912, 10.924, 10.931.
• This funding opportunity was created on Mar 10, 2023.
• Applicants must submit their applications by May 10, 2023. (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 $60,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 15 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), 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, For profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses.

Apply for USDA NRCS AL CTA NOFO0001257

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