With support from 6 state departments of agriculture, 14 nonprofit farm worker and social servicesorganizations, as well as farm managers and meatpacking plant administrators across a 14 state region,…

The US Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service awarded the Pennsylvania Association of Sustainable Agriculture (PASA) a $34,637,242 block grant under the Pandemic Relief Activities: Farm and Food Worker Relief Grant Program (CFDA 10.181). PASA will use the funding to provide relief and support services to agricultural and food processing workers impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic across 14 states through October 2024.

Working with 14 nonprofit and state agency partners, PASA will conduct extensive multi-lingual outreach and distribute relief funds to over 52,000 eligible farmworkers and meatpacking plant employees. Funds will be disbursed through paper checks, direct deposit, and prepaid debit cards. PASA will also provide technical assistance and support services to beneficiaries. Under subawards, Mano En Mano will assist beneficiaries in Maine with the application process, while Friends of Farmworkers will conduct targeted outreach and provide legal advice to vulnerable workers in Pennsylvania. Upon completion, PASA will issue recommendations to the USDA on best practices for delivering similar services in the future.

With support from 6 state departments of agriculture, 14 nonprofit farm worker and social servicesorganizations, as well as farm managers and meatpacking plant administrators across a 14 state region, pasa sustainable agriculture will build on the success of two prior covid relief funding projects. Withstrong regional support from organizations covering all 14 states, and subawardees mano EN mano inmaine and justice at work in pennsylvania, our project will ensure that 84 of federal dollars directlyreach farm workers and meatpacking workers in need.with a 31 year history of providing educational events, farmer research projects and resource sharing forfarmers, farm workers, and agriculture professionals, pasa is well positioned to meet this project sobjectives. The objectives include accessible outreach to 216,000 potential beneficiaries distributingrelief funds to 52,100 eligible beneficiaries ensuring fiscal controls and preventing fraud and, includingin our final report a set ofrecommendations for USDA s consideration for future service delivery. All communications will be created in english and spanish, with translation interpretation available inthirteen additional languages. Technical support staff will be available to assist at in person events, through email, virtual one on one meetings, toll free phone support, text messaging, and whatsapp.applications will be accepted through a secure online site or in person. Pasa will act as the clearinghousefor all applications and payment processes, ensuring strong fiscal and security controls, and providingbest practices around banking security, fraud prevention, and equitable payment solutions forbeneficiaries through paper checks, ACH payments, and pre loaded debit cards.