Block Grant AM21SPRSAK0017

The Alaska Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development will receive $30.7 million through the Pandemic Relief Activities: Farm and Food Worker Relief Grant Program administered by the US Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service. The Block Grant funding will be used to establish the Alaska Seafood Processors Pandemic Response Relief Program providing reimbursement grants to seafood processors in Alaska, including at-sea processors, for eligible COVID-19 mitigation costs already incurred from 2020 through 2021. Expenses eligible for reimbursement with the grant funds include workplace safety measures, facility retrofits, medical costs, and transportation and housing expenses related to worker quarantining. A total of $30.6 million will be made available through the relief program to reimburse Alaska seafood processors for significant, documented pandemic-related expenses imposed by federal, state, and local mandates. Grant awards are anticipated to be distributed by Summer 2022.