The rhode island department of environmental management (ridem) will provide reimbursements to eligible beneficiaries to help defray eligible expenses incurred to prepare for, prevent exposure to, and…

The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RIDEM) received a $371,412 Block Grant award from the US Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service under the Pandemic Relief Activities: Farm and Food Worker Relief Grant Program (CFDA 10.181). The funding will provide reimbursements to eligible seafood processing facilities and dealers in Rhode Island for expenses incurred between January 27, 2020 and December 31, 2021 to prepare for, prevent exposure to, and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. Eligible expenses include workplace safety measures, market pivots to address pandemic impacts, and retrofitting facilities. RIDEM will administer the application process and reimbursements, verifying claims through affidavits and audits. If total eligible claims exceed available funds, RIDEM will provide proportional reimbursements. RIDEM will partner with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission to facilitate approved claim payments by January 2024.

The rhode island department of environmental management (ridem) will provide reimbursements to eligible beneficiaries to help defray eligible expenses incurred to prepare for, prevent exposure to, and respond to the covid-19 pandemic during the period between january 27, 2020 and december 31, 2021. Eligible beneficiaries shall include and be limited to seafood processing facilities, including at-sea processors and dealers, holding licenses issued by ridem and/or the RI department of health, who maintained a place of business in RI where eligible expenses were incurred. Eligible expenses shall include and be limited to expenses incurred to prepare for, prevent exposure to, and respond to the covid-19 pandemic during the period between january 27, 2020 and december 31, 2021 in any of the following three categories: workplace safety measures, market pivots, and retrofitting facilities. Ridem will administer an application process, in accordance with regulations, to administer the reimbursements. If total eligible claims for reimbursement from eligible beneficiaries exceed the total amount of funds available to rhode island, ridem will provide equitable reimbursements based on a fixed percentage applied to all eligible claims. Ridem will employ affidavits and audits to verify the accuracy of claims. Ridem will partner with the atlantic states marine fisheries commission to facilitate the payments of approved claims.