NRCS NJ Community Gardens/Farm Agreement FY2025

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) New Jersey Community Gardens/Farm Agreement for Fiscal Year 2025 seeks to foster environmental stewardship and sustainable agriculture through conservation education and resource support in urban and underserved communities. The program emphasizes conservation education, outreach, and the implementation of climate-smart agricultural practices. It aims to address issues such as stormwater runoff, erosion control, habitat restoration, and sustainable gardening practices within New Jersey's communities. Projects funded under this initiative may focus on conservation practice demonstrations, educational opportunities, and support for historically underserved growers and communities. The primary objectives of the program are to provide conservation learning experiences, support USDA People’s Garden initiatives, promote stormwater and water quality management, prevent soil erosion, and create habitats for pollinators and other wildlife. Additionally, the program seeks to leverage non-federal resources to achieve conservation goals and provide outreach to increase participation in NRCS conservation programs among historically underserved communities. Entities involved in funded projects must follow up with participants to measure the success of their engagement in NRCS assistance programs. Eligible applicants include a variety of organizations such as city or township governments, county governments, independent school districts, Native American tribal governments, nonprofit organizations, public and private institutions of higher education, public housing authorities, and state governments. Individuals and foreign entities are not eligible to apply. Additionally, applicants must have control of the land where the project will take place, either through ownership or a lease agreement, and must maintain the project site throughout the duration of the agreement. The program will award up to $75,000 in total funding, with individual awards ranging from $5,000 to $20,000. The anticipated performance period for projects is between one and three years, starting on September 15, 2025. Funds can be used for necessary supplies such as tools, seeds, fertilizer, soil amendments, irrigation equipment, rainwater harvesting materials, temporary structures for plant health, and educational materials. However, funding for supplies is limited to established People’s Gardens unless there is a clear demonstration or educational component. Applicants must submit their proposals through Grants.gov by 11:59 PM Eastern Time on June 6, 2025. Required application components include an SF-424 Application for Federal Assistance form, a project narrative (not exceeding six pages), a detailed budget, and supporting documents such as current and pending support information and conflict of interest disclosures. The project narrative must outline objectives, a timeline, partnerships, evaluation metrics, and the anticipated community impact. Proposals will be evaluated based on criteria including project purpose and approach, management capacity, budget clarity, and the strength of the evaluation plan. The scoring will prioritize clear objectives, alignment with NRCS program goals, realistic timelines, and measurable outcomes. Selected projects will align with USDA priorities for environmental sustainability and community engagement. The USDA NRCS expects to announce award decisions by June 20, 2025, and execute agreements by September 15, 2025. Applicants are encouraged to access training resources and technical assistance to ensure compliance with federal grant requirements and optimize the success of their proposed projects.