The north carolina department of agriculture and consumer services has a long standing relationship with the NC seafood industry

The North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services will receive $279,234 through the Pandemic Relief Activities: Farm and Food Worker Relief Grant Program administered by the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service. This two-year block grant will support North Carolina seafood processors and distributors in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, the Department will reimburse eligible seafood businesses for qualifying pandemic-related expenses incurred between January 2022 and January 2024. A team will verify expense documentation from applicant businesses representing North Carolina's seafood industry to determine reimbursement amounts. The Department has experience managing similar programs and working with state agencies and organizations involved in seafood production and distribution. All $279,234 in grant funds are expected to be utilized to support North Carolina's seafood industry supply chain during the ongoing public health emergency.

The division of marketing has seafood marketing specialist dedicated to the promotion of NC seafood, inclusive of all sources, wild caught as well as farm raised fresh water aquaculture and marine mariculture. In addition, we have an aquaculture section that supports the industry and works with other state agencies that have regulatory functions regarding this industry. The division of food & drug has regulatory authority over wholesale seafood dealers. The ncda & CS has the experience to properly manage this grant program in NC in cooperation with various state agencies and local ngos responsible for regulating or providing business support for the NC seafood industry. We have taken the opportunity to survey a representative sample of the industry and determined that substantial investments were made to address the issues covered by six program target activities. We have also put together a team, with experience in federal grant management, industry connections, fiscal management, and administrative support. We will work with our grants and contracts section to create the necessary documents from application to final payment of award to qualifying applicant. After all the details have been worked out regarding the process, the core management team will work with various channels to share the opportunity with the industry. Providing a consistent message to other state agencies and ngos that clearly identifies the program, its objectives, how to apply and contact information for members of the lead team. This will include a web presence on the ncda & CS home page, which links to a dedicated page for detailed information regarding the NC seafood processors pandemic response and safety program.concurrently with the announce of the NC program, direct mailings that include details regarding the program will be sent to seafood dealers and processors operating in NC. This list will be cross checked with NC department of environmental quality, division of marine fisheries, ncda & CS food & drug, ncda & CS marketing division, ncsu sea grant and various seafood business and marketing organizations.a team will be created to receive and verify all applications for eligibility, as well as a review of expenses to determine total expenses eligible for reimbursement through the program. This review will include the reviews that may result in disqualification for expense already covered through other grant programs. This information will be entered into a spreadsheet, that includes any thresholds or other factors that may affect the total payment per application. Then final payout will be made and IT is expected that all funds awarded by USDA-AMS will be utilized.