USDA ANNOUNCES FARM AND FOOD WORKER AID

The Agriculture Department announced a $700 million investment into two new programs to provide financial relief to farm and food system workers. The first of the two, the Farm and Food Workers Relief program, is meant to assist millions of essential workers in farm fields, meatpacking plants and grocery stores who had to pay for personal protective equipment, dependent care and expenses associated with quarantines and testing out-of-pocket. The second program will fund at least one pilot program specifically for grocery workers. Neither program will have any immigration or vaccination status requirements, according to USDA officials.

Funds will be awarded through grants to state agencies, tribal entities and nonprofit organizations, with institutions receiving grant funding ranging from $5 million to $50 million. The application window for these grants will be announced in early fall and remain open for 60 days. Additional information and technical assistance for seeking grants and program updates will be provided by USDA when the application period opens.