This grant supports the costs incurred to implement measures to respond to the novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19), which may include workplace safety, market pivots, retrofitting facilities,…

This $559,788 block grant from the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service supports costs incurred by Washington State food processors, distributors, farmers markets, and producers to implement COVID-19 response measures between January 27, 2020 and December 31, 2021. Funding assists with workplace safety, facility modifications, transportation, housing, and medical expenses for employees in these industries. The Washington State Department of Agriculture serves as the awardee, with the Washington Department of Public Instruction listed as the parent organization. The grant falls under the USDA's Specialty Crop Block Grant Program - Farm Bill, which provides $10.17 million annually to states and territories to enhance the competitiveness and profitability of specialty crops through research, promotion, and marketing activities.

This grant supports the costs incurred to implement measures to respond to the novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19), which may include workplace safety, market pivots, retrofitting facilities, transportation, worker housing, and medical expenses. IT provides needed relief to the food processors, distributors, farmers markets, and producers for their costs incurred between january 27, 2020, the date upon which the public health emergency was declared by the U.S. Department of health and human service (HHS) under section 319 of the public health service act, and december 31, 2021. Beneficiaries include the employees of the food processors, distributors, farmers markets, and producers.