Easement Programs Restoration and Stewardship Assistance Fiscal Year 2023 Announcement for Program Funding – SOUTH CAROLINA | USDA NRCS SC ACEP 23 NOFO0001295

Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NRCS SC ACEP 23 NOFO0001295

The Easement Programs Restoration and Stewardship Assistance Fiscal Year 2023 Announcement for Program Funding - South Carolina is a discretionary federal funding opportunity released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). It is offered as a cooperative agreement, meaning selected recipients should expect to work in close coordination with NRCS during project implementation rather than operating entirely independently. The notice is issued ahead of final federal fiscal year 2023 funding decisions, so the actual availability and level of funding could change depending on continuing resolutions or a final appropriations act.

The main purpose of the opportunity is to concentrate NRCS resources on two related priorities within South Carolina: (1) restoring degraded wetlands and the associated uplands connected to those wetlands, and (2) supporting stewardship activities on existing conservation easements across the state. In practical terms, the funding is aimed at improving wetland functions and conditions where they have been impaired, while also helping maintain and manage lands already protected under easement programs so that their conservation values are sustained over time. NRCS points applicants to general background information on its easement programs through its national easements webpage.

Eligibility is broadly open. With the only explicit exception being federal agencies, NRCS invites applications from all qualified U.S.-based non-federal entities and individuals, and it specifically notes that non-federal entities of all sizes are encouraged to apply. The listing categorizes eligible applicants as unrestricted, subject to any clarifications that may appear in the full notice under the additional eligibility information section. The opportunity is tied to CFDA numbers 10.072, 10.931, and 10.932, which correspond to NRCS conservation assistance programs.

Applications had to be submitted electronically through Grants.gov, with a firm deadline of 11:59 pm Eastern Time on June 30, 2023. The announcement emphasizes that technical problems with Grants.gov must be handled through Grants.gov Applicant Support (phone and email provided), and that NRCS awarding staff will not assist applicants with Grants.gov account or platform issues. For questions about the content of the notice itself, applicants are directed to the federal awarding agency contact listed in the notice (Section G), but questions are limited to clarifications about the published requirements (for example, dates, page references, or resolving inconsistencies). The agency explicitly states it will not address questions about eligibility determinations for a particular applicant or the merits of a specific proposal in advance.

In terms of funding scale, the opportunity lists an award ceiling of $3,800,000 and anticipates making about two awards. These figures suggest relatively large, concentrated projects or partnerships rather than many small awards. The funding opportunity number is USDA NRCS SC ACEP 23 NOFO0001295, the posting (creation) date is May 16, 2023, and the agency is USDA-NRCS. Overall, the grant is positioned as a South Carolina-focused investment in wetland restoration and the long-term stewardship of existing easement lands, implemented through cooperative agreements with non-federal partners and applicants willing to coordinate closely with NRCS.

• The Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service in the agriculture, environment, natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Easement Programs Restoration and Stewardship Assistance Fiscal Year 2023 Announcement for Program Funding – SOUTH CAROLINA" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.072, 10.931, 10.932.
• This funding opportunity was created on May 16, 2023.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 30, 2023 Applications must be received by 1159 pm Eastern Time.. (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 $3,800,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 2 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.

Apply for USDA NRCS SC ACEP 23 NOFO0001295

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