York Town News
Maine NRCS announces funding for innovation grants, closure of York County office
BANGOR - State Conservationist Joyce Swartzendruber of the United States Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has announced that $100,000 is available in new grants to Maine farmers; landowners; state, tribal and local government entities, and non-governmental organizations.Funds will be awarded through a statewide competitive grants process to address some of the state's most pressing natural resource conservation needs.
"We are always working with our partners to look for new approaches to bringing environmental enhancements to working lands," said Swartzendruber. "This program provides an excellent opportunity to find innovative solutions and promote new conservation technologies."
These funds will be awarded through Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG), a component of the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP).
The deadline for submitting proposals is April 27.
Typically, successful projects will support innovative on-the-ground conservation using methods such as pilot projects and/or field demonstrations and must address one of two components: Natural Resources Concerns, such as atmospheric resources; grazing land and forest health, and wildlife habitat, or Technology, such as improved on-farm energy efficiency and innovative approaches to deliver EQIP on non-industrial private forest lands.
The grants of up to $75,000 for a project require a 50 percent non-federal match. Projects may be single or multi-year, not to exceed three years. Eligible projects must involve at least one agricultural producer who is eligible for the EQIP program.
Additional information and related forms are located at www.me.nrcs.usda.gov or at http://www.grants.gov.
In a separate announcement Swartzendruber noted the York County office of the NRCS, located in Alfred, will be closing Feb. 26, with clients from York County to be served through the NRCS office in Cumberland County. This change was made in order to gain efficiencies in providing NRCS technical and financial assistance programs to landowners across the state.
"We have discussed this matter with our co-located partners in York County, the York County Soil and Water Conservation District, and they are in full agreement with NRCS on the Alfred office closure," said Swartzendruber. "USDA Farm Service Agency closed their York County office nearly 10 years ago and is now also operating out of the Cumberland County office. York County farmers may already be accustomed to carrying out USDA business in Cumberland County."
The York County Soil and Water Conservation District will relocate to the Anderson Learning Center, 21 Bradeen St., Springvale, on Feb. 26. The telephone number will change to 324-0888.
The USDA Service Center servicing Cumberland and York County producers is located at 306 U.S. Route 1, Suite A1, Scarborough, ME 04074, telephone (207)883-9443, ext. 3, fax (207)883-1139.
"We welcome the new service area and the many conservation delivery opportunities that will be available for York County customers," said Wayne Munroe, NRCS District Conservationist in Cumberland County. "We will do everything we can to make this transition seamless for the people of York County."
