406/Illinois Department of Agriculture

Grant program for our Illinois Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs) per the Soil and Water Conservation Districts Act (70 ILCS 405).

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Section 140. The sum of $4,500,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated to the Department of Agriculture from the Partners for Conservation Fund for grants to Soil and Water Conservation Districts for ordinary and contingent administrative expenses.

Soil and Water Conservation Districts Act (70 ILCS 405)

Grant funds will be used to cover ordinary and contingent administrative expenses for the following purposes: (1) To foster sustainable agriculture practices and control soil erosion, sedimentation, and nutrient loss from farmland, including grants to Soil and Water Conservation Districts for conservation practice cost-share grants and for personnel, educational, and administrative expenses. (2) To establish and protect a system of ecosystems in public and private ownership through conservation easements, incentives to public and private landowners, natural resource restoration and preservation, water quality protection and improvement, land use and watershed planning, technical assistance and grants, and land acquisition provided these mechanisms are all voluntary on the part of the landowner and do not involve the use of eminent domain. (3) To develop a systematic and long-term program to effectively measure and monitor natural resources and ecological conditions through investments in technology and involvement of scientific experts. (4) To initiate strategies to enhance, use, and maintain Illinois' inland lakes through education, technical assistance, research, and financial incentives. (5) To partner with private landowners and with units of State, federal, and local government and with not-for-profit organizations in order to integrate State and federal programs with Illinois' natural resource protection and restoration efforts and to meet requirements to obtain federal and other funds for conservation or protection of natural resources. (6) To support the State's Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy, including, but not limited to, funding the resources needed to support the Strategy's Policy Working Group, cover water quality monitoring in support of Strategy implementation, prepare a biennial report on the progress made on the Strategy every 2 years, and provide cost share funding for nutrient capture projects. (7) To provide capacity grants to support soil and water conservation districts, including, but not limited to, developing soil health plans, conducting soil health assessments, peer-to-peer training, convening producer-led dialogues, professional memberships, lab analysis, and travel stipends for meetings and educational events. (8) To develop guidelines and local soil health assessments for advancing soil health.

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The terms and conditions will be included in the awards.

Other; Government Organizations;

The specific details regarding the applicant eligibility and program requirements will be outlined in the NOFO

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Non-competitive

Government Services

Applicants must be prequalified in GATA and meet the requirements outlined in the NOFO

General announcement open for a period of time for application submittal. Grantees will be asked to complete allocation requests.

Applicants must follow the application procedures outlined in the NOFO.

A team of staff and subject matter experts will review the applications based on the criteria and procedures outlined in the NOFO.

The Department will select the grant following a review process that is outlined in the NOFO. The grant funds will be provided on a variable advance / reimbursement basis that will be negotiated with the Department. Requests must be reasonable, necessary, and directly related to the purpose of this notice. Grant funds are primarily provided on a reimbursement basis. A variable advance may be allowed.

Application deadline will be outlined in the NOFO or funding notice

Approval timelines will be outlined in the NOFO

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Since this is not an open/competitive opportunity, Grantees will be asked to complete allocation requests. Allocation request do not guarantee funding amounts. Final assistance amounts for each SWCD will be determined by the Department of Agriculture.

Grant funds to be used for Partners for Conservation - Illinois Soil and Water Conservation District Grants administrative expenses.

After field review, each SWCD submits documentation that verifies the completion of the conservation practice. Upon approval of the documentation by the Department, the SWCD releases the State's share to the respective landowner. SWCDs are required to have an annual audit performed by a qualified accounting firm or file a financial management report to the Department that shows the expenditure of all allocated grant funds.

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0608-40646-4900-0100

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The Department publishes annual guidelines for SWCDs to adhere to in administering the grants.

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Association of Illinois Soil and Water Conservation Districts (217-744-3414)

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6/15/2016

FY 2018 : $5,000,000
FY 2019 : $7,500,000
FY 2020 : $7,500,000
FY 2021 : $7,500,000
FY 2023 : $8,500,000
FY 2024 : $4,500,000
FY 2025 : $4,500,000