The Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the Mississippi Conservation Delivery for Outreach, Education, and Technical Assistance program offers a substantial funding opportunity for conservation partners in Mississippi. Administered by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), this program seeks to enhance conservation delivery by addressing key objectives such as climate-smart agriculture, conservation outreach, technical assistance for easement programs, and organic and specialty crop workshops. The total anticipated funding for this initiative is $8 million, with individual awards ranging from $50,000 to $999,999. The duration of funded projects can span from one to five years, beginning around September 1, 2025.

The purpose of the funding is to implement conservation strategies and increase the participation of socially disadvantaged, limited resource, women, veteran, and beginning farmers and ranchers in NRCS programs. The program also emphasizes outreach and education to help landowners adopt sustainable and climate-resilient agricultural practices, enhance wetland conservation, and promote the use of organic farming techniques. The NRCS aims to work in collaboration with recipients to ensure project success through activities like monitoring, technical assistance, and oversight.

Eligible applicants include state and local governments, tribal entities, nonprofits, small businesses, and institutions of higher education. Partnerships or foreign entities are not eligible to apply, and projects must be carried out within Mississippi. Applicants are encouraged to propose specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-bound (SMART) objectives and must meet several technical and administrative eligibility requirements, including an active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM). Additionally, applicants must ensure no duplicative payments are made under other USDA programs.

To apply, applicants must submit a comprehensive application through Grants.gov by March 16, 2025, at 11:59 PM ET. Required documents include a project narrative, budget details, and other supporting materials as outlined in the NOFO. The NRCS will evaluate applications based on merit and technical criteria such as alignment with conservation objectives, clarity of project goals, feasibility within the proposed budget, and the applicant's capacity to manage federal funds. A technical review board will assess proposals, and final award decisions will be made by the NRCS Mississippi State Conservationist.

Successful applicants will be notified by April 15, 2025, and awards are expected to be executed by July 15, 2025. Those awarded funding must adhere to post-award requirements, including compliance with financial and performance reporting, and other federal policies like the National Environmental Policy Act and the Endangered Species Act. Awardees are also required to ensure cost principles and risk management standards are met, and projects must be conducted in compliance with USDA civil rights regulations.

This program is a competitive opportunity for eligible entities to address critical conservation needs in Mississippi while advancing sustainability, environmental quality, and community engagement. Interested applicants are strongly encouraged to review the NOFO in detail and participate in free Grants 101 Training available online to better understand federal grant processes.