USDA announces the 15 organizations that will administer the Farm and Food Workers Relief Grant Program
USDA has announced actions the agency said will further its commitment to farmworkers, meatpacking workers and grocery store workers by recognizing their essential role in America’s food system.
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that 15 grant recipients have been selected to receive funding through the Farm and Food Workers Relief Grant Program (FFWR), according to a news release. Organizations were selected for their proven track records working with farmworkers, meatpacking workers and front-line grocery workers, their strong partnerships with worker-serving organizations and their ability to provide services in critical geographic areas to collectively ensure nationwide coverage under this program, according to the release.
“USDA is committed not only to acknowledging the work of our nation’s essential agricultural and food workers, but also ensuring they are not left out of opportunities for relief from the effects of the pandemic,” Vilsack said in the release. “The grant recipients being announced today will help us provide relief payments to workers across the country who kept food moving to our families during an especially challenging time.”
The program, which is administered by USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), will use funding to provide relief to farmworkers and meatpacking workers who incurred pandemic-related health and safety costs, the release said.
Funding is also set aside for three pilot programs to support grocery workers in recognition of their essential role in the pandemic response. These organizations are now preparing systems and will begin implementing outreach so eligible farmworkers, meatpacking workers and grocery workers can apply to these grant recipients to receive $600 payments soon.
USDA anticipates beneficiaries will be able to apply for funds from some of these recipients as soon as late November. Workers must provide valid proof of ID and employment to receive a payment, according to the release.
Grant Recipients Supporting Farmworkers and/or Meatpacking Workers: Organization Beneficiary Funding
- Alianza Nacional de Campesinas, Inc. Farm, Meatpacking $48,247,075
- Catholic Charities USA Farm, Meatpacking $9,021,306
- Cherokee Nation Farm, Meatpacking $45,948,000
- Community Resources and Housing Development Corporation Farm, Meatpacking $6,608,000
- Hispanic Federation, Inc. Farm, Meatpacking $44,299,586
- La Cooperativa Campesina de California Farm $36,000,000
- National Center for Farmworker Health Farm $36,000,000
- National Migrant and Seasonal Head Start Association Farm $57,374,541
- Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture Farm, Meatpacking $34,637,242
- Todec Legal Center Perris Farm, Meatpacking $4,500,000
- UFCW Charity Foundation, Inc. Farm, Meatpacking $131,660,000
- UFW Foundation Farm $97,836,293
- United Migrant Opportunity Services/ UMOS, Inc. Farm, Meatpacking $56,886,475
- United Ways of California Farm, Meatpacking $41,965,538
- Grant Recipients Supporting Grocery Worker Pilot Programs:
- Chicanos Por La Causa, Inc. Grocery $10,000,000
- UFCW Charity Foundation, Inc. Grocery $10,000,000
The relief provided through the program is intended to defray costs for reasonable and necessary personal, family or living expenses related to the COVID-19 pandemic, such as costs for personal protective equipment (PPE), dependent care and expenses associated with quarantines and testing related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the release said.
AMS had previously established cooperative agreements with two organizations, UFW Foundation and Corazón Latino, to provide technical assistance, communications and outreach support for this program. More information about the program is available on USDA's website.
