Funder: US Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Status: Open for eligible State agencies, commissions, or departments to apply
Next Step: Once USDA has awarded funds, state agencies will provide funding to their state’s seafood processors and processing vessels.
State agencies will provide more information for their state’s application process at a later date.
Purpose:
This is a program designed to provide funding to prepare for, prevent exposure to, and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic for seafood processing facilities and processing vessels. USDA will award approximately $50 million in assistance to eligible State agencies to provide relief to seafood processors, including processing facilities, dealers, and processing vessels, who incurred costs due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Funding is provided by the Pandemic Assistance provided in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021.
Timeline:
September 9, 2021 – USDA announces Seafood Processors Pandemic Response and Safety Block Grant program
September 23, 2021 – USDA opens application period for eligible State agencies, commissions, or departments to apply
November 22, 2021 – USDA will close the application period for eligible State agencies, commissions, or departments to apply
Funding can be used for the following activities:
Workplace Safety Measures: Workplace safety measures, including, but not limited to, personal protective equipment, sanitizer, hand washing stations, air filters, thermometers, cleaning supplies, or similar items.
Market Pivots: Market pivots such as the transition to virtual/online sales costs (online platform development and fees, online marketing, credit card processing fees), supplies, new signage.
Retrofitting Facilities: Retrofitting facilities for worker and consumer safety (retrofitting harvester vessels for onboard vessel processing to maximize open-air activities, plexiglass, walk-up windows, heat lamps, fans, tents, propane, weights, tables, chairs).
Transportation: Additional transportation costs incurred to maintain social distancing.
Worker Housing: Additional worker housing costs incurred to maintain social distancing or to allow for quarantining of new or exposed employees.
Medical: Unreimbursed costs associated with providing or enabling vaccinations, testing, or healthcare treatment of infected employees, including any paid leave.