This proposal was developed collaboratively by the washington state department of agriculture (wsda)and the washington department of fish and wildlife (wdfw)

The $2.4 million Block Grant from the US Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) Pandemic Relief Activities: Farm and Food Worker Relief Grant Program (CFDA 10.181) will fund safety protocols and COVID-19 response costs for seafood processing facilities and vessels in Washington state through January 2024. The grant will provide direct payments to seafood processors and processing vessels for eligible expenses incurred between January 2020 and December 2021, including worker transportation/housing, quarantining, COVID-19 testing, personal protective equipment, facility modifications, and medical costs necessitated by the pandemic. The Washington State Department of Agriculture will administer fund disbursement to eligible seafood businesses.

The purpose of this grant is to defraycosts associated with safety protocols and response to the covid-19 pandemic for seafood processing facilities and seafood processing vessels.washington is home to one of the nation's largest commercial fishing, shellfish aquaculture, andseafood economies. The seafood processing sector has been significantly impacted by the covid-19 pandemic. Expenses include worker transportation and housing, quarantining, covid-19 testing, personal protective equipment, facility modifications, and medical costs. As regulations and informationabout the novel coronavirus has evolved, companies have had to quickly adapt and change protocols.wsda will provide payments directly to seafood processors and processing vessels for eligible expenses.under the consolidated appropriations act of 2021, $50 million was provided to the united statesdepartment of agriculture (USDA), agricultural marketing service (AMS) for the seafood processorspandemic response and safety (sprs) block grant program. Washington was allocated $2,426,509 usingthe national oceanic and atmospheric administration (NOAA) 2019 landings data for eligible states.payments will be made directly to applicants for eligible costs incurred between january 27, 2020 anddecember 30, 2021.the funds will be distributed as outlined in this proposal to seafood processing businesses inwashington.